AK Party Spokesperson: Turkey Pursuing Regional De-escalation Through All Channels

Ankara at the Forefront of Regional Diplomatic Efforts

In notable statements, Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), shed light on Ankara's pivotal role on the regional and international stage, particularly in de-escalation and conflict prevention efforts. Celik stated that Turkey is exerting its utmost efforts through all available channels to ensure the region remains distant from the specter of war, noting that these endeavors directly influence the key powers in the region.

Celik added in an interview with Turkish broadcaster "A Haber" that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's policy advocating brotherhood and cooperation inspires regional nations, emphasizing Turkey's unique ability to engage with both sides of any conflict, which enhances its role as an effective mediator in achieving regional calm.

Intensive Diplomatic Efforts and International Cooperation

The party spokesperson highlighted that Ankara is leading intensive diplomatic efforts for peace, in cooperation with countries such as Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, and other Gulf states. Celik affirmed the strategic weight that Turkey and President Erdoğan personally possess in addressing complex regional crises.

Regarding the diplomatic efforts preceding the recent escalation, Celik explained that the Iranian side was unable to participate in the desired negotiation format due to its internal imbalances at the time, considering Istanbul to be the most suitable venue for hosting such talks.

Sharp Criticisms of US Support for Israel and European Stance

On another front, Celik asserted that it is impossible to halt Israeli attacks as long as US support for them continues, calling on the international community to balance this support and establish different mechanisms to address the situation.

Celik warned that the world is paying the price for considering Israel an "exception" to international rules, stating: "Israel has always been considered an exception to the rules that apply to everyone in the world, and when you continuously justify the aggressor, you bring trouble to the entire world." He considered the greatest threat to global peace today to be Israel and its strong influence on US policy, pointing to Israeli-led lobbying groups with significant weight within the United States that are promoting war.

Commenting on the US-Israeli alliance, Celik said: "These groups claim that this military operation must continue, and that the goal should be the complete collapse and change of the Iranian regime."

On the European front, Celik considered that the European stance exacerbates tensions rather than contributing to peace. He described France's decision to send warships to support Cyprus as an approach that would escalate tension in the region. The party spokesperson affirmed that the values of the European Union have collapsed in the face of what he described as "genocide in Gaza," stressing that the security agreement concluded by Cyprus with Israel is a stark contradiction to declared principles.

NATO Summit and the Future of the Western Alliance

In another context, Celik emphasized that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, to be hosted by Ankara next July, will be the most significant in the alliance's history, as it will represent a decisive moment for the relationship between Europeans and Americans. He noted that the alliance, which identified counter-terrorism as its main objective after the collapse of the Soviet Union, is suffering from continuous tremors, despite remaining the only alternative security organization for the Western alliance.

Celik touched upon the ongoing discussions about establishing a European army or an alternative transatlantic alliance, asserting that these ideas have not materialized due to their difficulty.

Global Challenges and Turkey's Steadfast Position

Celik warned that the world is currently facing major crises ranging from energy to food, adding that in addition to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the issue of the Bab al-Mandab Strait is currently being discussed, which could ignite a much larger crisis.

The party spokesperson indicated that Ankara is proposing a roadmap on the correct way to manage this tense landscape, emphasizing that Turkey stands as a bastion of stability in this environment surrounded by conflicts on all sides.

Celik concluded by saying: "We are in a period where the positions of the European Union have collapsed, and America has been left alone with these contradictions, but Turkey's proposals have successfully passed these tests."