President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved if "everyone puts their hands under the stone," urging NATO allies and regional actors to take active roles. Speaking after the NATO Summit in The Hague, Erdoğan welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, calling it “a window of opportunity that must not be wasted.”

"We hope the ceasefire turns into permanent calm. Everyone, including allies, must take responsibility for peace in the region," Erdoğan stated, noting intense diplomatic efforts involving regional leaders and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Gaza Destruction a 'Humanitarian Catastrophe'

Erdoğan described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, emphasizing that nearly 56,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, with over 129,000 injured. "Israel's restrictions have turned a humanitarian tragedy into a disaster. No one with a conscience can stay silent," he said. He criticized Israel for preventing aid deliveries and accused the international community of failing to restrain its actions.

NATO Agrees on 5% Defense Spending Goal

Highlighting the summit’s key outcome, Erdoğan confirmed that NATO allies agreed to raise their defense budgets to 5% of GDP within ten years. Türkiye, he noted, is already close to this threshold thanks to its investments in defense technology, especially unmanned aerial systems. He praised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's "Texas-to-Ankara" defense innovation focus.

Türkiye’s Continued Role in Regional Mediation

Erdoğan also reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to diplomacy in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, citing previous breakthroughs in prisoner swaps and grain corridor agreements. "Our goal is to pave the way toward lasting peace. As always, we believe that a just peace has no losers," he said.

Türkiye Ready to Host Next NATO Summit

President Erdoğan announced that Türkiye will host the next NATO Summit, expressing satisfaction with the decision and underlining the importance of mutual trust and cooperation within the alliance.