Erdogan rejects ‘maximalist’ approaches in Aegean, East Med

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech during the unfastened ceremonial during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, successful Antalya, southern Turkey, Friday. [Riza Ozel/AP Photo]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his state rejects what helium described arsenic “maximalist unilateral approaches” that question to exclude Turkey and the Turkish-occupied bluish portion of Cyprus from determination developments.

“We want to spot the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean arsenic a oversea of stability and prosperity. For this reason, we cull the unilateral and maximalist positions that try to exclude Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [sic] and we bash not find the futile efforts that spot hopes successful the clime of war correct,” helium said, addressing the opening ceremonial of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026.

Erdogan besides reiterated Ankara’s presumption connected Cyprus, stating that the presumption of the Turkish Cypriots demonstrates the beingness of “two abstracted peoples and two abstracted states” connected the island.

Referring to Greece, the Turkish president spoke of a “Turkish minority” successful Western Thrace, arguing that the caller betterment successful bilateral relations could lend not lone to addressing outstanding issues betwixt the two countries but besides to ending what helium described arsenic violations of the rights of the minority, which Greece recognizes arsenic a spiritual number only, citing the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.

Erdogan besides addressed Turkey’s relation successful Libya, saying Ankara supports the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, arsenic well arsenic broader improvement initiatives crossed Africa.