Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that alliances are forming in the Eastern Mediterranean, intending to encircle Turkey, adding that if diplomatic means fail, such issues are ultimately referred to the military.
Speaking in an interview with Turkey’s state broadcaster TRT, Fidan said his ministry is focusing on several key areas, including regional security, the Palestinian issue, and energy cooperation. However, he highlighted what he described as “visible and invisible” efforts to isolate Turkey through regional partnerships.
“One of the most important issues is the visible and invisible areas from which Turkey is surrounded,” Fidan said. “These visible areas of encirclement are alliance zones created to Turkey’s detriment. We are aware of them and are developing diplomatic measures to respond. If you cannot develop diplomatic measures on specific issues, you refer the matter to your military and security institutions, and then more things happen.”
Turkey’s discontent with the Greece – Cyprus – Israel alliance
The Turkish official did not mention any countries, but it is more than evident that he referred to the strategic partnership that Greece and Cyprus have developed with Israel in the last several years.
The Turkish foreign minister stressed that his country prefers to act through diplomacy but warned that failure to do so could compel military involvement. “You must take the diplomatic steps you can in advance,” he said.
During the same interview, Fidan also discussed relations between Ankara and Washington, noting cooperation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue and the recent Gaza plan involving Hamas. “ Mr Trump requested to call our president, invoking their friendship,” Fidan said. “He expressed confidence that our president had already offered every possible assistance but asked him once again to show his interest in this matter.”
According to Fidan, Hamas issued a positive response to Trump’s proposal six to seven hours after the conversation. He described the cooperation between the two leaders as potentially beneficial for both bilateral and regional stability. “If the two leaders see that their collaboration helps solve problems between the two countries and promotes regional peace, this is indeed a productive relationship,” he said.
Cyprus refutes Ankara’s claims
Meanwhile, the President of Cyprus responded to Fidan’s comments, stating that the Republic of Cyprus and other regional powers operate within a “positive framework.”
Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the Chatzigiannio Health Centre in Akaki, Nikos Christodoulides said, “Any country that respects international law is not excluded. If Mr Fidan wants his country to participate in these processes, Turkey must respect international law and proceed to resolve the Cyprus issue accordingly. Turkey is excluding itself through its daily behavior.”
