Türkiye had a packed agenda last week.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan continued his focus on Syria, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarks regarding Donald Trump’s return to office.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu faced trial over alleged insults toward a prosecutor, and Victory Party leader Ümit Özdağ was detained on charges of insulting the President and inciting public hatred and hostility.
Foreign Minister’s remarks on Syria
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Esad Hasan Sheybani, in Riyadh and held a joint press conference afterward.
Emphasizing the beginning of a new phase in Syria, Fidan made the following remarks:
“It has been over a month since the fall of the Assad regime. A new chapter has begun in Syria, and this opportunity must be utilized wisely by both the new Syrian leadership and the international community. Establishing an inclusive political process, led and owned by the Syrian people, is of utmost importance. It is time for all religious, ethnic, and sectarian groups in Syria to embrace one another. We are pleased to see that the new leadership is adopting an inclusive approach. As Türkiye, we support efforts to ensure the National Dialogue Conference reflects the will of all components of Syrian society.”
Fidan also called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, stating:
“Sanctions, a bitter legacy of the Assad regime, unfortunately, remain in place. Intense diplomatic efforts are ongoing to lift these sanctions. As a result, the United States has introduced partial exemptions, and we understand that the European Union is also working on providing similar relief. For Syria to deliver essential public and infrastructure services, sanctions need to be lifted. Their removal will accelerate the normalization process, creating conditions for millions of Syrians to return home. It will also enhance Syria’s capacity to combat terrorist groups like ISIS. The international community can support Syria in rebuilding its state institutions and capacity. Türkiye stands ready to share its expertise in these areas.”
Touching on the topic of terrorist groups operating in Syria, Fidan said:
“The Assad regime harbored terrorist organizations for years and even exported terrorism. In the new Syria, there is no place for groups like PKK, YPG, or ISIS. We are encouraged by the new leadership’s determination to fight terrorism. Now, it’s time for implementation. Türkiye has significant experience in countering terrorism and cooperating with third countries on this front. We aim to establish a similar collaboration with the new Syrian leadership. From intelligence sharing to developing military capabilities, we are ready to contribute. Likewise, we’ve expressed our willingness to provide operational support in the fight against ISIS to both the new leadership and neighboring countries. In fact, we’ve already taken some steps in this direction recently. As we’ve always stated, Türkiye is prepared to assist the new leadership in managing ISIS camps and prisons.”
Fidan also had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which they discussed developments in Syria, Ukraine and other regional matters.
Erdoğan talks about Trump
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared his thoughts on Donald Trump’s inauguration during a bilateral meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Ankara. Erdoğan expressed optimism, stating, “It is very important for us that the friendship we had during his first term continues unchanged.” He also mentioned having already congratulated Trump on his election victory and added, “We will continue to engage, and I am confident that our discussions will yield positive outcomes for both countries.”
Erdoğan also addressed the longstanding U.S. support for the PKK/YPG in Syria, a critical issue between Ankara and Washington. He stated, “Our expectation is clear: we want the United States to end its support for terrorist organizations like the PKK/YPG.” Stressing Türkiye’s role as a committed NATO ally, Erdoğan remarked, “We believe constructive steps in this direction will strengthen our partnership and contribute to stability in the region.”
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdoğan shared his intent to discuss the conflict with Trump, stating, “Peace is where solutions lie; war leads nowhere. We will put this matter on the table during our talks with President Trump and take steps accordingly.”
The Turkish President also reflected on Türkiye’s efforts to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war and the challenges in reopening the Black Sea Grain Corridor. He noted, “Despite our efforts, we were unable to resolve the grain corridor issue. While 30 million tons of grain have been delivered, many people in Africa and other regions still face shortages. We continue discussions with all parties involved to find a solution to this critical problem.”
Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to assisting Slovakia with natural gas supplies, pledging to collaborate with both Russian and Slovak officials to ensure energy security. “We will engage in phone diplomacy this week to expedite solutions,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s dedication to peace and alliance-building: “Our friendship with Slovakia and our alliance within NATO remain strong. Similarly, with President Trump back in office, I believe the U.S.-Türkiye relationship will flourish.”
Investigation against Imamoğlu, detention of Özdağ
One of the most striking topics of last week in Türkiye was the investigation launched against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on charges of insulting a prosecutor, and the detention of Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ on accusations of insulting the President and inciting hatred and hostility.
The investigation against Imamoğlu began after he criticized Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, following the detention of the CHP Youth Branch President on charges of insulting public officials. During his statement, Imamoğlu said:
“Listen to me, Chief Prosecutor. We are determined to uproot the mentality that governs you from this nation’s collective consciousness so that even your children—though you yourself may never benefit—will be freed from this kind of treatment. Remember this: we will make sure that no one knocks on your children’s doors early in the morning or takes them from their homes.”
Following these remarks, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against Imamoğlu on allegations of “threatening” and “targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts.”
The Prosecutor’s Office released a statement:
“An ex officio investigation has been initiated against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on January 20, 2025, for his statements made during a program, which are considered threatening towards Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family, on charges of ‘threat’ and ‘targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts.’”
In response, Imamoğlu wrote in his X account:
“The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor has initiated an investigation against me, alleging that I threatened him and his family. There is not a single word of threat in my speech. Especially, I have never and would never threaten anyone through their family or children. Every word I said was a demand for impartial justice for everyone in this country, for the sake of their children and their future. I stand by my words: justice for everyone, always. I leave the Chief Prosecutor, who drew this conclusion, to God and the conscience of the nation.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel joined Imamoğlu in a press statement, reacting strongly to the investigation:
“This is truly a schizophrenic situation. Imamoğlu had barely stepped 15 steps away from the podium where he spoke, and an investigation was launched against him. Doesn’t the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor have anything else to do? On a Monday morning, he is sitting there watching Imamoğlu live… It is very clear that we are dealing with a special prosecutor tasked with stirring up trouble in Istanbul and targeting Imamoğlu.”
Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was detained on charges of insulting the President and inciting hatred and hostility.
The investigation against Özdağ stemmed from his remarks made on January 19, 2025, during his party’s provincial chair meeting in Antalya, where he criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In his speech, Özdağ stated:
“For a thousand years, the Turkish nation has maintained its sovereignty in Anatolia, enduring many Crusades. The First Crusade began in 1095. The last Great Crusade took place between 1914 and 1922. Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, we defeated the last Great Crusade in Anatolia. (…) No Crusade in the last thousand years has inflicted as much damage on the Turkish nation and state as Erdoğan and the AKP have.”
Özdağ accused Erdoğan of distorting history and harming the nation’s values by “allowing millions of refugees and illegal immigrants into Anatolia”.