Türkiye’s leader calls ongoing Middle East conflict "meaningless and unlawful"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that ongoing conflicts will carry escalating global consequences if they are not brought to an end, stressing that no country will be shielded by distance.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum Türkiye Country Strategy Meeting held at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office, Erdoğan said the impact of current wars is already being felt far beyond the immediate region.

“If conflicts do not end, the price to be paid will only grow. Geographical distance will have no meaning in this process,” he said.

He emphasised that while diplomacy and dialogue still offer opportunities to reach common ground, any attempts to undermine such efforts ultimately impose consequences on all of humanity.

Erdoğan described the war that has shaken the region over the past month as “meaningless, unlawful and unnecessary,” adding that its burden is not limited to the parties directly involved but extends to the global community as a whole.

He noted that the negative effects of the conflict are already evident worldwide, affecting energy markets, production systems, information networks, transportation, and international trade.

The meeting brought together senior Turkish officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, alongside global chief executives, international financial representatives, and major fund managers.

Later, Erdoğan held a closed-door meeting with Laurence Douglas Fink, head of BlackRock and a leading figure associated with the World Economic Forum, at the Dolmabahçe office.

The remarks come against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, carrying out airstrikes on cities across the country. In response, Iran fired missiles at Israeli territory and targeted US military bases in the countries of the Persian Gulf.

Amid the escalation, several countries in the region temporarily closed their airspace. On the same day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes carried out by US and Israeli forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova