World News
Turkey's pursuit of eastern alliances does not mean abandoning the West, Erdogan says
Returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara's interest in full membership while defending its ties with Western allies.
The short version
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that seeking full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization does not signify turning away from the West.
- During the summit in Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan met one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss nuclear cooperation and the war in Ukraine.
- Erdogan called for a permanent mechanism to secure commercial shipping in the Black Sea to avert another global grain crisis.
- It remains unannounced how Western allies or SCO members will respond to Turkey's bid for full membership in the bloc.
Key facts
- Erdogan reiterated Turkey's ambition to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization following a summit held in Kyrgyzstan.[Associated Press]
- Erdogan met directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss expanding nuclear cooperation and resolving the war in Ukraine peacefully.[Associated Press]
- Erdogan highlighted the need for a permanent maritime security structure in the Black Sea to protect civilian commercial shipping and avoid a renewed grain crisis.[Associated Press]
- The 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes Russia, China, India, and Iran, and has often been characterized as a counterweight to United States global influence.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The timeline and concrete steps for Turkey's potential accession to full SCO membership remain unclear.[Associated Press]