Published December 16,2025

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Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Tuesday that global institutions are becoming “increasingly dysfunctional” as the world enters a period of heightened uncertainty marked by shifting power balances.

Speaking to ambassadors in Ankara, Kurtulmuş said rapid global changes are reshaping international relations, with multipolarity rising alongside simultaneous trends of globalization and regionalization.

As a country “aspiring to be a regional power and global actor,” he said Türkiye must shape its policies according to the demands of this new era.

Kurtulmuş said rapid advances in high technology, climate change, food security, energy, and transportation connectivity are creating new tensions while also opening fresh opportunities.

Describing the current period as the “threshold of a new era,” he said Türkiye closely monitors these developments and seeks to act proactively.

PRINCIPLES OF TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

He said Turkish foreign policy is “principled, determined and rejects indifference in the face of global crises.”

Türkiye aims to help build a world based on peace, stability and security, an approach that guides Ankara’s stance on regional conflicts, he said.

Referring to Ukraine, the Caucasus and Gaza, Kurtulmuş said Türkiye remains committed to principled negotiations, humanitarian diplomacy and consistent positions.

He reiterated Türkiye’s strong support for Palestinians and African nations, highlighting leader-level diplomacy, embodied by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as a key strength of Turkish foreign policy.

Türkiye pursues an independent and multidimensional foreign policy based on what he described as the “Türkiye axis,” rather than aligning exclusively with either the East or the West, Kurtulmuş said.

Conscience is also a central compass of Turkish diplomacy, he added, arguing that foreign policy cannot be based solely on calculations.

In this context, he said Türkiye has taken a leading role in advocating for Gaza and mobilizing global awareness against injustice and crimes against humanity.

Kurtulmuş also stressed the growing importance of cultural and parliamentary diplomacy, saying Türkiye actively uses these tools worldwide to strengthen ties, explain its positions and build lasting partnerships.

Another guiding principle, he said, is the “spirit of the times,” stressing that Ankara seeks to balance calm decision-making with speed and adaptability.

Published December 16,2025

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Germany’s former President Christian Wulff visited historical sites in the district of Iznik in Türkiye’s northwestern Bursa province.

Wulff visited Iznik with his daughter Annelena and close friends, touring historic sites from the Istanbul Gate of the ancient walls to the Afyon Sultan Mosaic Excavation Area.

Speaking to Anadolu at the Ancient Theater, the final stop of his Iznik tour, Wulff said he was deeply impressed by Iznik.

Noting that Türkiye has a rich historical and cultural heritage, Wulff said that extraordinary discoveries have recently been made in Iznik.

He said the discovery of the basilica was extremely impressive and that many Christians from around the world would visit these excavation sites in the coming years. Wulff emphasized that it is also extraordinary that what is likely the world’s earliest depiction of Jesus, dating back to around 380 AD, was found here.

He said that as a Christian, learning about the beginnings of Christianity in the region just a few centuries after the birth of Christ was deeply emotional for him, adding that he believes Iznik has great potential as an archaeological discovery site.

Published December 16,2025

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Six universities from Türkiye ranked among the world’s top 100 greenest institutions in a global list assessing sustainability performance across 1,745 universities in 105 countries.

Overall, 54 Turkish universities placed in the global top 500 in the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University rankings, while 97 institutions from Türkiye ranked within the top 1,000, according to the results.

Istanbul Technical University ranked 25th globally, followed by Yıldız Technical University-also in Istanbul-at 48th, placing both institutions in the top 50.

Erciyes University ranked 66th, Ege University 83rd, Özyeğin University 89th, and Yeditepe University 91st, completing Türkiye’s representation in the top 100.

According to a statement from the Council of Higher Education (YOK), initiatives promoted under the Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Campus Project played a key role in boosting universities’ performance. The program aims to improve energy efficiency and expand environmentally friendly practices across campuses.

“Universities are pioneers in green transformation. We adopt a holistic approach across a wide range, from infrastructure to energy efficiency, water and waste management, and public transportation,” said Erol Özvar, the council’s head.

The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, launched by Universitas Indonesia in 2010, is the first global ranking system focused exclusively on sustainability in higher education. It evaluates universities based on criteria including green infrastructure, environmental policies, resource management, and efforts to reduce ecological footprints.

Published December 16,2025

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated on Tuesday that recent mutual attacks in the Black Sea are seriously threatening navigation safety, adding that targeting commercial and civilian ships would not benefit anyone. He emphasized that both sides have been clearly warned on this matter.President Erdoğan delivered remarks at the 16th Ambassadors Conference, held at the Beştepe Nation’s Exhibition Hall in the capital Ankara.

Key points from President Erdoğan’s statements:

In the context of the Russia–Ukraine War, we brought together both countries—each with whom we maintain special relations—three times in Istanbul this year. The humanitarian gains achieved as a result of the Istanbul Process constitute a significant success for Turkish diplomacy. In addition to the Istanbul Process, within the framework of the Ukraine war, we have led many initiatives to date—such as the Black Sea Grain Initiative and prisoner exchanges—achieving concrete results in the humanitarian field.

By meticulously implementing the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, we prevented the war from spreading to the Black Sea. However, the recent reciprocal attacks pose a serious threat to maritime navigation safety in the Black Sea. Targeting commercial and civilian vessels benefits no one. We are clearly conveying our warnings on this issue to both sides.

The South Caucasus, which has long yearned for peace, is today going through a historic period. Azerbaijan and Armenia are closer than ever to signing a peace agreement. In parallel with this process, while remaining in dialogue with Azerbaijan, we are also advancing our normalization process with Armenia. God willing, some symbolic steps will be taken starting from the beginning of next year.