Erdogan Praises Iran-Israel Ceasefire in Talks with Trump, Urges Dialogue on Ukraine and Gaza
In a high-profile meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit Tuesday night, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel and called for deeper cooperation with the United States to address ongoing global conflicts. The meeting, held with former U.S. President Donald Trump, comes at a pivotal moment following 11 days of escalating violence in the Middle East.
According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish leader “expressed his satisfaction with the ceasefire achieved between Israel and Iran through President Trump’s efforts, hoping it would be permanent.” The ceasefire announcement was made earlier Tuesday by Trump, who said that Iran and Israel had agreed to a staggered truce that would mark an “official end” to their recent conflict.
The escalation had intensified over the weekend, with the United States joining Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In response, Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar late Monday, which, according to officials, appeared to bring the confrontation to a halt.
During their discussions, Erdogan also emphasized the importance of U.S.-Turkey cooperation in ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. “The President stressed the importance of close dialogue in ending the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza as soon as possible and in peacefully resolving the Russia-Ukraine war,” the statement said.
Erdogan also used the opportunity to advocate for stronger defence and trade ties with the U.S., suggesting that increased collaboration in the defence sector could play a major role in enhancing economic relations. “Advancing cooperation in the defence industry would facilitate achieving the goal of a $100 billion trade volume,” he stated.
The meeting underscored Erdogan’s bid to position Turkey as a regional mediator and strategic partner to the United States amid growing global instability. As NATO confronts multiple security challenges, Ankara’s calls for dialogue and economic partnership may signal a recalibration of Turkish-American relations moving forward.
