Ankara, May 15, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Türkiye is poised to play a central role in a new global geopolitical order, as shifting dynamics reshape regional balances and global influence.
“Our world is changing, the old order is crumbling, and a brand-new equation is being established in our geography with Türkiye at its centre,” Erdogan declared on Thursday while addressing the AK Party Organization Academy Leadership School in Ankara.
The president’s remarks came against the backdrop of ongoing global turbulence, including the war in Ukraine and evolving regional security challenges.
Türkiye’s Role in Ukraine Peace Efforts
President Erdogan also highlighted his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The leaders discussed efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end through a fair and lasting peace.
“We discussed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war with a just peace,” Erdogan said, emphasizing Türkiye’s continued diplomatic engagement aimed at resolving the war.
The bilateral meeting and an extended working lunch between delegations lasted nearly three hours and were held behind closed doors. Key Turkish officials in attendance included National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Ibrahim Kalin, and Chief Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Cagatay Kilic.
Welcoming PKK’s Disarmament Announcement
Addressing recent developments regarding domestic security, President Erdogan welcomed the PKK’s announcement of its intention to disband and disarm, describing it as a significant step toward ending decades of violence and instability.
“We welcome it as a step toward indefinitely ending a 40-year scourge and ensuring lasting peace in our region,” he said, adding that the MIT would carefully monitor the disarmament process.
He underscored Türkiye’s policy of measured engagement with those who have fully renounced terrorism and violence, while reiterating Ankara’s uncompromising stance on national security: “Türkiye has never tolerated terror groups on our borders with Iraq or Syria, and never will.”
Erdogan concluded by declaring a decisive shift in the regional approach to security, stating, “The era of using terrorism in our region is over, and the era of relying on foreign actors is over.”
The PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union — has waged a violent campaign against the Turkish state for over four decades, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 people. Its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, is similarly regarded by Türkiye as a serious security threat.
