Ahead of the May 19th celebrations, the Turkish Air Force’s aerobatic teams, ”Türk Yıldızları” and ”SOLOTÜRK”, conducted a rehearsal flight in Samsun. They will perform a demonstration flight at 16:00 on May 19th at Doğupark Beach.

Published 17.05.2025 12:03

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, “Our successes in the fight against terrorism were not only achieved through state policies, but also through the determination and solidarity of our people. This struggle has led us to the process of building a terrorism-free Türkiye.”

Speaking to the press on the plane returning from Albania, where he attended the 6th Summit of the European Political Community, Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s vital role in ensuring Europe’s security, prosperity, and stability. He shared updates on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and underlined the importance of cooperation in achieving peace in the region.

Erdoğan also reiterated that all political and prejudiced obstacles to deeper cooperation should be removed for Europe to catch up with much-needed transformation. He called for stronger collaboration in fields like defense industry and security, stressing the need for collective action against terrorism.

On the issue of Gaza, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing humanitarian efforts and stressed that Israel’s aggression must be stopped. He emphasized that a two-state solution remains the best path for lasting peace in the region.

Erdoğan also touched upon the recent approval of missile sales to Türkiye by the U.S. under CAATSA, expressing optimism for a smooth resolution of this process. He emphasized the importance of Türkiye-U.S. strategic cooperation in ensuring regional stability and addressing global challenges.

Erdoğan’s comments reflect his commitment to resolving conflicts diplomatically and ensuring security both domestically and globally.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan will co-chair the second session of their joint Coordination Council in Riyadh on Sunday, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Fidan will travel to Riyadh on Sunday for the second meeting of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, his third visit to Saudi Arabia in the past year. His most recent trip was a working visit on Jan. 28-29.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal traveled to Türkiye on April 11-12 to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)-Arab League Gaza Contact Group meeting in Antalya.

According to the Foreign Ministry, discussions during Fidan’s visit are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing key regional issues.

The Turkish foreign minister will highlight that “the rapidly developing cooperation between the two countries in all areas is a source of satisfaction.”

He will also stress that “Türkiye aims to further increase its trade volume with Saudi Arabia” and that “strategic dialogue between the two countries contributes to regional peace and stability.”

Fidan is also expected to emphasize shared regional concerns, saying “it is important to demonstrate solidarity in the face of the challenges confronting the Islamic world, particularly within the OIC,” and that “achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and launching reconstruction efforts is a priority.”

On Syria, he will underline that “lifting sanctions would accelerate Syria’s development,” and that “the solidarity shown by Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on the Syria issue is encouraging for the international community.”

He will reiterate “the necessity of halting Israel’s destabilizing attacks on Syria.”

The Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, established in 2016 under the leadership of the two countries’ foreign ministers, serves as a framework to institutionalize and advance bilateral relations.

The first meeting was held in Ankara in February 2017.

The body includes five subcommittees covering diplomacy, security, culture, social development, and economic cooperation.

The trade volume between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia reached approximately $8 billion in 2024, reflecting deepening economic ties.

Both countries continue to cooperate closely on regional matters, including through the Gaza Contact Group.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the opening of the Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital.

President Erdoğan said, “The work that started at the Göktepe 3 well was completed as of yesterday. We received great news yesterday. With the meticulous efforts carried out, we have discovered a new natural gas reserve of 75 billion cubic meters in the field. This amount will cover the needs of our residential areas for about 3.5 years on its own.”

He added, “We have opened the doors to a new era in energy. We have reinforced our fleet with new ships. We have been in a fierce battle to gain independence in energy. Our ships are now drilling in Somalia as well. We are very pleased to see the fruits of our efforts. So far, we have conducted 11 drilling operations in the Mediterranean and 38 in the Black Sea.

The work that started at the Abdulhamid Khan well and the Göktepe 3 well was completed as of yesterday. We received great news yesterday. With meticulous efforts, we have discovered a new natural gas reserve of 75 billion cubic meters in the field. This will meet the needs of our residential areas for about 3.5 years on its own.”