President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Oct. 19 that Türkiye had avoided nearby conflicts through restraint, although he has also linked regional turmoil to higher oil prices and inflation at home.
Speaking to village and neighborhood heads (muhtars) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan said his government had chosen patience when faced with provocations. He described that approach as a way to protect the country from unrest beyond its borders.
He cited the war in Ukraine, tensions in Iran, a new conflict in Yemen and instability in Lebanon. Erdogan pointed to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in discussing Yemen. He also accused Israel of seeking to destabilize Syria.
Erdogan had addressed an economic effect in an earlier speech. On Oct. 7, he said higher oil prices linked to regional conflicts were contributing to inflation in Türkiye.
Separately, Türkiye's Foreign Ministry has scheduled the ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference for Oct. 23-24. The event will feature panels on mediation.
