In the midst of President Joe Biden’s efforts to rally global support for Ukraine in the face of Russian advances on the battlefield and to moderate criticism of his stance on Israel’s backing in the context of the current conflict in Gaza, President Biden encounters a significant dissident voice in the form of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has voiced his disapproval of the actions taken by Western nations in response to the crises in Ukraine and Russia, claiming that these actions are risky and incorrect.
Despite Biden’s demands for stronger NATO unity against Russia, Turkey made it clear from the beginning that it would not get involved in the conflict. The solemn position is the promotion of peace. He stressed that peace can only be reached via talks, and Western stances towards Russia have damaged Ukraine more.
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of war in February 2022, Turkey has sent vital armaments to Ukraine. Among the few foreign leaders who have succeeded in bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table during the worst conflict in Europe in decades, Erdogan has stood out. The peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which Turkey sponsored in Istanbul only weeks after the conflict started, eventually failed. Prior to its eventual demise, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Turkey negotiated, was one of the few treaties in which all parties had expressed their support. In light of Putin’s demands for a ceasefire, Erdogan has indicated his readiness to convene fresh talks between Russia and Ukraine.
According to Erdogan, there is a difference of opinion between him and his American counterpart about human rights. According to him, the worst abuse of human rights has been Israel’s savage killing of defenseless civilians.
Following last year’s historic surprise onslaught by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, Erdogan has become one of the most prominent worldwide opponents of Israel’s operation in Gaza. With his announcement in May to cut off all commercial relations with Israel, Erdogan has maintained his call for an end to Israeli aggression.
Erdogan has joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, two multilateral blocs supported by Iran, India, Russia, and China, respectively, out of concern about a failing global order.
