Erdogan: We are “a Great Nation” and will not submit to a “Small state” that was somehow created in the region

Sudanhorizon – Agencies

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has escalated his rhetoric, asserting that his country is a “great power” that will not submit to dictates or retreat from its regional role. He emphasized that Turkey’s goal is to push the region towards reconciliation and enhance security and stability.

In a speech delivered at a press conference following a cabinet meeting Tuesday , Erdogan outlined the phase Ankara is pursuing in its surrounding region, expressing his confidence that Syria, Iraq, and the region in general will move towards greater peace and stability. He called on Turks, Kurds, and Arabs to unite as “brothers.”

Without naming specific parties, Erdoğan accused certain groups of attempting to undermine Turkey and destabilize the region, asserting that those seeking to profit from terrorism or push the region into chaos would be defeated. Addressing these groups, he added, “We are well aware of the calculations you are making,” emphasizing that Ankara also has its own plans and will not deviate from its course.

Erdoğan affirmed that Turkey will continue working to strengthen stability, combat terrorism, and counter what he described as the conspiracies being hatched against it. He believes that peace, stability, and brotherhood will prevail in the coming period, and that the country is entering a new era from which its citizens will benefit.

In a strongly worded message, Erdoğan rejected attempts to diminish his country’s standing and role, stating, “We are not a grocery store; we are one of the world’s largest countries.” He emphasized that Turkey is a nation with a long history and one of the major powers that has achieved military, scientific, intellectual, and artistic successes, and that it “opened hearts before fortresses.”

He emphasized that his country “will not submit to any small state that has been created in this region,” without explicitly naming Israel. However, this statement, along with his remarks about parties targeting him personally recently, may come within the context of the escalating political confrontation with Israel and its leadership.

Erdogan said that some parties have recently targeted him in his capacity as head of state, stressing that Ankara is assessing and monitoring these statements. He believes that those making them are trying to exploit what he described as “the final moments” after Turkey’s success in eliminating “terrorism.”

Erdogan pointed out that Turkey has historically been able to coexist with Jews and Christians, describing it as a just state for all, proud of its history, and one that does not succumb to what he called “petty calculations,” and knows how to manage its domestic and foreign policies.

In contrast to the escalating rhetoric, Erdoğan was careful to emphasize that Turkey has no “hidden agenda,” and that its goal is to create an atmosphere of reconciliation in the region and achieve justice, security, and prosperity in neighboring countries. He stressed that his country will continue working for the security, peace, and stability that the region needs “as much as a living being needs water and air.”

He affirmed that the Turkish people alone determine the country’s policies, and that Ankara will not base its decisions on what foreign parties attempt to dictate. He also emphasized that Turkey will not abandon those he described as the oppressed, from Palestine and Iraq to the Caucasus and Africa, within the framework of what Erdoğan presents as a responsibility that transcends his country’s borders.

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