Erdogan States Deeper Russia, China Ties Not a Rejection of the West
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey's deepening ties with Russia and China, including its pursuit of membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), do not represent a rejection of the West. He made these comments aboard his presidential…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, September 2, 2026 —
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asserted that Turkey’s strengthening relationships with Russia and China, alongside its interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), should not be interpreted as a departure from its Western alliances.
The President conveyed these remarks during a press briefing aboard his presidential aircraft. This statement followed his attendance at an SCO summit held in Kyrgyzstan. During the summit, President Erdogan engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Key topics addressed in the meeting between Erdogan and Putin reportedly included the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and matters concerning maritime security in the Black Sea region. The pursuit of membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, signals Turkey’s engagement with Eastern geopolitical structures.
President Erdogan’s comments aim to reassure Western partners about Turkey’s strategic orientation, emphasizing that its engagement with countries like Russia and China is part of a broader foreign policy and does not signify an abandonment of its traditional partnerships.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
