Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, returning from the UN General Assembly in New York, reiterated Ankara’s hardline stance on the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus.
Speaking to journalists aboard his flight, Erdoğan declared Turkey’s determination to “take its share” of the region’s natural resources, calling for cooperation with neighboring countries on a “win-win” basis.
“Turkey has no ambitions over the sovereignty of others. However, we are determined to protect our own rights. Our firm stance is reshaping the region. Turkey now has a voice at the negotiation table and acts as a guiding power,” he said.
The remarks highlight Ankara’s ongoing efforts to secure a central role in the Mediterranean energy landscape, amid strengthened alliances between Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt.
On Cyprus: “Two states is the only realistic solution”
Erdoğan reaffirmed that the federal solution is “off the table,” insisting the only viable path forward is the recognition of two independent states on the island.
“The federation issue is over. Turkish Cypriots will never accept minority status. The only solution is to accept the existence of two separate states. We made this clear at the UN General Assembly and will not change our stance,” Erdoğan stated.
He further stressed that Turkey, as a “motherland and guarantor power,” will never abandon the Turkish Cypriot people.
Turkey’s expanding role in the Mediterranean
Following his meeting with Donald Trump in New York, Erdoğan seeks to present Turkey as both a mediator between East and West and a key player in Libya and the Middle East.
His “win-win” rhetoric echoes earlier Turkish calls for joint exploitation of energy resources — proposals consistently rejected by Greece, which insists its sovereign rights are firmly protected under international law.
Analysts view Erdoğan’s latest statements as both a domestic rallying tool and a diplomatic maneuver to push for international recognition of the pseudo Turkish Cypriot state.
