As always, Türkiye had a packed agenda last week.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Iran and the statements he made there topped the list.
Pope Francis’ visit to Türkiye and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was another major headline.
The visit of Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani, linked to Türkiye’s ongoing “Terror-Free Türkiye” process also sparked debate.
Foreign Minister in Tehran
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan paid a critical visit to Tehran last week.
During the trip, he met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani.
Larijani shared a post in Turkish on social media regarding the visit, saying: “Welcome to your own home. Hoping for deeper cooperation between Iran and Türkiye.”
The discussions covered a wide range of major regional security issues. Recent developments in Syria and Gaza, and Israel’s aggressive stance, were the central topics of the talks. Officials emphasized the importance of coordination between Ankara and Tehran in managing regional crises.
After Fidan’s meeting with his Iranian counterpart Araghchi, the two held a joint press conference.
Fidan began his remarks by saying he was “very pleased to be in Iran”, noting that this was his fourth visit to the country as foreign minister.
Fidan announced that new border gates will be opened between Türkiye and Iran. He elaborated:
“We need to make our border crossings more efficient. Iran has a large population, Türkiye has a large population, and our economies are sizeable. Our societies are very close, have strong interaction. Millions of people travel back and forth every year, and trade is intense. But if we want to make this more systematic and take it further, there are very concrete projects we need to carry out. And once again, that became clear today.
We are eagerly looking forward to opening the Consulate General in Van. Inshallah, and I promised my counterpart: if he comes, I will be there too, and we will open it together.”
Fidan also emphasized cooperation in the fields of energy and irregular migration:
“Our cooperation on energy, gas, electricity, is extremely important. We continued our discussions on this. As you know, we face challenges in our immediate neighborhood regarding irregular migration. This is an area where we must work closely with Iran. We discussed how we can jointly combat irregular migration, particularly from Afghanistan, and how we can work with the Afghan authorities on this.”
Fidan added that regional issues were also on the agenda:
“Türkiye and Iran are the two major powers of the region. So we reviewed regional matters, first and foremost Palestine and Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Israel’s expansionism, the ongoing nuclear talks, and the Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions.”
Fidan said the talks were highly productive, noting that Türkiye and Iran had “put every issue on the table.” He continued:
“Above all, we discussed in detail the key issues that directly concern our bilateral relations, prosperity and economies — especially energy. What we saw is that, to boost trade, there is still a lot we need to do, particularly in terms of using our borders more efficiently. And frankly, we also realized that, when it comes to connectivity, transportation and logistics, both countries have fallen behind where we need to be.”
Fidan announced that new border crossings between Türkiye and Iran will be opened. He offered the following assessment:
“We need to make our border gates far more efficient. Iran is a large country, Türkiye is a large country; our economies are big. Our societies are very close and interact intensely. Millions of people travel back and forth every year, and trade is substantial. But today we once again saw that there are concrete projects we must implement if we want to make this interaction more systematic and take it further. We focused on what more structural and practical steps we can take. We’re eagerly awaiting the opening of the Consulate in Van. And I promised my colleague that if he attends, I will also be there so we can inaugurate it together.”
Fidan also emphasized cooperation in the fields of energy and irregular migration:
“Our cooperation on energy — gas and electricity — is extremely important. We continued our discussions on this. As you know, there are challenges stemming from our immediate region regarding irregular migration. This is a major area in which Türkiye and Iran need to work together. It’s a serious issue that awaits both of us. We discussed how we can jointly address irregular migration, especially that originating from Afghanistan, and how we might work with the Afghan administration in this context.”
Fidan added that regional issues were also discussed:
“Türkiye and Iran are two powerful countries in the region. We reviewed regional matters as well — first and foremost Palestine and Gaza, as well as Syria, Lebanon, Israel’s expansionism, the ongoing nuclear negotiations, and the tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We addressed all of these thoroughly.”
Fidan also delivered messages directed at Israel:
“Like every country in the region, we agree that Israel’s regional expansionism is the number-one security threat we face. Our priority is ensuring that the hard-won ceasefire in Gaza continues and that we move to the next stage, while the ongoing aggression in the West Bank and Jerusalem comes to an end immediately.
The international community must do its part. The international community must act to halt Israel’s expansionist moves aimed at destabilizing Syria and Lebanon.
I also told my dear brother that Türkiye stands with Iran in any upcoming nuclear negotiations. Our objective is for Iran to resolve the issue within the framework of international law, to be freed from sanctions, and to move rapidly toward regional integration economically and in other fields. These sanctions imposed on Iran for years are unjust, and we say this at every opportunity.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, for his part, said his country welcomed the PKK’s decision to lay down arms.
Touching on economic relations, he underlined the need to remove obstacles in bilateral trade and investment, and said “Iran is ready to extend the gas agreement with Türkiye and to further deepen our cooperation in the energy sector.”
Erakçi also touched on logistics and trade. He noted that the two sides discussed opening a new border gate and new trade centers, connecting the countries via a railway line, and holding technical-level expert meetings on preferential trade. He added that Iran’s consulate in Van will open in the near future, which he said will give fresh momentum to bilateral relations.
On Israel Erakçi stated: “The stability and peace of Syria depend on preserving its territorial integrity, and the greatest threat comes from Israel.”
The Pope in Türkiye
Another major topic on Türkiye’s agenda last week was Pope Leo XIV’s visit between 27–30 November, along with the meetings and activities held as part of the visit.
Pope Leo XIV met with President Erdoğan. Their meeting lasted roughly half an hour. Afterward, Erdoğan and the Pope addressed guests in the Cihannüma Hall of the National Library.
Expressing his hope that the visit would strengthen the deep-rooted relations between Türkiye and the Vatican on the basis of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding, President Erdoğan said: “I sincerely believe that the messages conveyed from Türkiye throughout this visit, starting with the reflections from this very hall, will reach both the Turkic–Islamic world and the entire Christian geography, further boosting hopes for peace.”
Erdoğan continued:
“At a time when humanity’s search for direction is accelerating, global uncertainties are rising, and tensions are escalating from Asia to Africa, from Latin America to Eastern Europe, we hope this visit brings blessings to all mankind. During our productive bilateral meeting today, we shared our observations and common expectations on achieving global peace and stability. Alongside our bilateral relations, we discussed current issues that concern humanity’s collective conscience. We stressed that protecting people forced to migrate is as important as eliminating the underlying causes that force them to leave their homes.”
Erdoğan also highlighted Türkiye’s role in the “Alliance of Civilizations”:
“As the heirs of a history where different cultures and civilizations lived side by side in peace, we are doing, and will continue to do, whatever falls on our shoulders to help nurture an environment of global peace and stability. At a time when a ‘clash of civilizations’ is being stoked, the Alliance of Civilizations, which Türkiye and Spain launched and which has since advanced under the United Nations umbrella, stands as the most concrete example of this. Now in its 20th year, the Alliance of Civilizations, with more than 160 member countries and organizations, has reached a level that is gratifying not only for our country but for all humanity. Just as we did 20 years ago, we continue to shoulder responsibility in the face of the conflicts, crises, and injustices around us, choosing the difficult path over the easy one, and stepping up for peace, justice, and stability.”
President Erdoğan underlined that the Palestinian question is at the heart of any lasting peace in the region. He said that more than 70,000 Gazans, most of them women and children, have been killed in the over two-year-long assault of Israel has once again proved that. Erdoğan noted “Israel has been bombing civilian areas for months, including churches, mosques, hospitals, and schools. One of the places Israel struck was the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza.”
President Erdoğan added that Türkiye has always appreciated Pope Leo XIV and his predecessors’ resolute stance on the Palestinian issue.
Pope XIV Leo, speaking about Türkiye’s natural beauty, said that it calls on people to protect what God has created. He added, “The cultural, artistic, and spiritual richness of the places you inhabit reminds us that when different generations, traditions, and ideas come together, great civilizations emerge where development and knowledge harmoniously converge.”
Highlighting that the image of the bridge over the Dardanelles was chosen as the logo for his journey, and that it clearly reflects Türkiye’s unique role, the Pope said:
“Above all, by valuing the internal diversity you possess, you hold an important place in the present and future of both the Mediterranean and the entire world. This bridge connects Türkiye to itself even before linking Asia with Europe, the East with the West. It unites the different regions of your country, making it a sort of ‘crossroads of sensitivities.’”
The Pope noted that human communities are increasingly polarized and divided by extreme views. Referring to previous papal visits (Paul VI in 1967, John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006, and Francis in 2014), Pope XIV Leo emphasized that these visits demonstrate the Vatican’s continued good relations with the Republic of Türkiye, as well as its intention to cooperate with the country’s contributions as a bridge between East and West, Asia and Europe, and as a crossroads of cultures and religions, in order to build a better world.
Addressing the issue of wars, the Pope stated: “What Pope Francis referred to as a ‘gradually unfolding third world war’ is being set in motion. We must never submit to it. The future of humanity is at risk. The energy and resources consumed by this destructive dynamic are diverted away from the real issues that humanity must confront together today, namely, peace, the fight against hunger and poverty, health and education, and the protection of creation.”
Following his engagements at the Presidential Complex, Pope XIV Leo visited the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı) and met with its head Safi Arpaguş.
In Istanbul, the Pope first gathered with bishops, priests, deacons, and clergy at the Saint Esprit Catholic Church (Holy Spirit Cathedral) in Harbiye. He then traveled by helicopter to İznik in Bursa, participating in a ceremony among Christian denominations to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
During his visit to the Sultanahmet Mosque, Pope XIV Leo also visited the Mor Ephrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church, holding meetings with leaders of local churches and Christian communities.
He also met with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos at Aya Yorgi Church and the Fener Greek Patriarchate. The two signed a joint declaration.
At Volkswagen Arena, the Pope conducted a mass and also paid a prayer visit to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral.
The visits and rhetoric of Pope XIV Leo, particularly during his meeting with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos, drew reactions from the parties and public.
The Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP Semih Yalçın issued a statement regarding the visit:
“Pope XIV Leo’s visit, which contains planned messages directed at the Christian world and seems aimed at stirring both historical and religious divisions, appears to have been turned into a sort of ‘show’. Indeed, during the İznik part of the visit, a lavish ceremony was held reenacting the Council meeting from the year 325. This deliberately staged ceremony, organized on Turkish soil with Seljuk and Ottoman heritage with the aim of uniting and consolidating the Christian world, has caused discomfort in the public.”
Another party criticizing the Pope’s visit was the Vatan Party. The Party organized a demonstration during the Pope’s visit to İznik.
Vatan Party Provincial Chair Dilek Çınar claimed that the Pope’s İznik visit was “not an innocent religious worship, but a political move targeting Türkiye’ sovereignty. In a press statement Çınar said:
“The Pope’s visit to İznik is based on the idea of uniting the divided Christian world for the last time.
This is not Byzantium; this is the Republic of Türkiye. This is not Nicaea, this is İznik. Your colonial laws do not apply here. Your fabricated ecumenical claims do not apply here.
While Gaza has turned into a bloodbath and Israel relies on ‘religious mandates’ in its actions, this visit cannot be considered innocent religious worship. The Pope’s visit to İznik is political. Moreover, he will be accompanied by Fener Greek Patriarchate Bartholomeos who declares himself ‘Ecumenical’. This is so-called a ‘unification meeting of the Christian’.
Claiming to have an ecumenical authority representing 270 million Orthodox Christians worldwide means nothing but not recognizing Türkiye’s laws. The Lausanne Treaty does not include any provision regarding the Patriarchate. It was agreed that the Patriarchate would remain in Istanbul as a religious institution for the Greek community exempted from the population exchange and would not engage in any political activity.”
Declaring the Fener Greek Patriarchate as ‘Ecumenical’ is an attack on the sovereignty of the Republic of Türkiye. It is contrary to the Lausanne Treaty. Atatürk had clearly warned in 1922: “The Greek Patriarchate is a hotbed of discord sowing seeds of strife in the country. Türkiye is not obliged to maintain such an institution on its soil.” The Fener Greek Patriarchate is an institution under the jurisdiction of the Fatih District Governorship of Istanbul and has no other authority or mandate.
The ecumenical claims of the Patriarchate, which has engaged in unconstitutional activities within CIA operations, are now being voiced in İznik together with the Pope.”
The Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) and numerous civil society organizations also protested the Pope’s visit.
Reactions to Barzani’s ‘armed guards’
Masoud Barzani, the former President of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, visited Cizre and Şırnak.
The entry of his armed guards into Turkish territory during this visit and related footage in the media caused significant backlash from the public.
An investigation has been launched regarding the visit.
AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, speaking on a TV channel, described the footage as “unpleasant” and confirmed that an investigation had been initiated.
The strongest reaction to Barzani’s visit came from the coalition partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli stated:
“Barzani currently holds no official state position. He entered our country merely as a guest. Nevertheless, the baseless showers of praise and exaggerated compliments, staged almost like a show in front of the symposium, along with the presence of foreign-uniformed soldiers carrying long-barreled weapons, is disgraceful. The sovereignty and laws of the Republic of Türkiye have been violated. This is a deliberate attack on the reputation of the Republic of Türkiye.”
Barzani’s office responded to Bahçeli’s criticisms with a statement:
“Unfortunately, Devlet Bahçeli again spoke with a chauvinistic mindset regarding President Barzani’s visit to Cizre.
All security measures and precautions for President Barzani’s visit were implemented according to the protocol agreement between the relevant institutions of the Kurdistan Region and Türkiye. Moreover, whenever senior Turkish officials visit the Kurdistan Region, Türkiye’s special forces accompany them.
We believed that God had guided Devlet Bahçeli and that he had abandoned racism and chauvinism. However, it seems he remains the old Grey Wolf only now disguised in sheep’s clothing.”
But, soon after this statement, Barzani’s office made another statement seen as a stepback:
“Unfortunately, following this historic visit, various undesirable and excessive comments and assessments have been made. The important point is the exceptional period that has been achieved in relations between the Republic of Türkiye and the Kurdistan Region.
The peace process is also a correct step taken towards resolving an important and sensitive issue. We commend the efforts of the Turkish government, the ruling parties, and everyone who plays an effective role in developing peace and stability in Türkiye and the region.
We believe it is necessary for all of us to work together to alleviate concerns, to focus on strengthening relations, securing peace, and protecting our common interests and regional stability.”
The Vatan Party also reacted to happenings during Barzani’s visit. Party’s leader Doğu Perinçek emphasized “We should hold the government accountable”. He said that the problem lies mainly not on the Barzani side, but on the Republic of Türkiye by allowing Barzani’s armed guards in Turkish territory.