Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that Turkey does not seek to expand its sovereignty to other countries and has no designs on the territories or natural resources of other states. This was among the statements he made during the weekly meeting of the AKP parliamentary group, just days after the European Commission’s damning report on Turkey.
Erdogan after Commission report: We have no designs on neighbors’ territories
The Turkish president referring to Ankara’s relations with its neighbors emphasized the importance of maintaining sovereignty and international law, particularly in relation to recent decisions by the Turkish parliament to extend military missions in Syria and Iraq. He notably stressed that his country respects the sovereign rights of all its friends, especially its neighbors.
As he characteristically stated: “Under no circumstances do we seek the territory, sovereignty, underground and surface resources of another country. We respect the sovereign rights of all friendly countries, especially our neighbors. Turkish forces have been guarantors of peace, security and stability in all regions where they have been deployed, in accordance with international law.”
He then emphasized that the Turkish armed forces will continue to defend peace and brotherhood in all regions where they are present. As Erdogan said: “The Turkish flag will continue to inspire confidence in its friends in whatever region it flies. No one should doubt this. All our brothers, whether Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis or Shiites, know this historical reality well. Instead of opposing the presence of Turkish troops on their own territory, they actually welcome it“.
The EU report on Turkey: “Concerning backsliding“
It should be noted that the European Commission, in its latest progress report on Turkey, recorded serious concerns about the country’s progress regarding the rule of law and fundamental human rights. Turkey responded with anger, characterizing the European conclusions as unfounded and biased.
Turkey’s accession negotiations remain at a standstill, despite significant economic relations and cooperation efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean. Specifically, the progress report highlighted Turkey’s “concerning backsliding” in the area of rule of law and fundamental rights, with particular reference to continued crackdowns on political opponents and journalists, as well as charges brought against elected officials and opposition figures. The EU denounced the continued deterioration of democracy and the departure from the Union’s basic values, which are an integral part of relations with Turkey.
The report on Greece-Turkey relations
The report acknowledged the improvement in Greece-Turkey relations and positive developments in communication and dialogue between the two countries, following the “Athens Declaration” of December 2023. Nevertheless, it emphasized that the ongoing dispute over the continental shelf and maritime zones remains a significant obstacle to bilateral relations.
As the report’s authors noted, Turkey continues to challenge Greece’s sovereign rights, issuing NAVTEX and raising objections to Greece’s creation of marine parks. The report also referenced continued violations of Greek airspace and territorial waters, noting increased incidents compared to previous years. Additionally, the inclusion of the “Blue Homeland“ doctrine in Turkish school textbooks constitutes “cause for concern“.
Finally, as highlighted in the Commission’s report, the potential extension of Greek territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean continued to affect Greece-Turkey relations, while it is recalled that the 1995 declaration remains in effect stating that any unilateral action by Athens to extend its territorial waters would be considered casus belli.
