Foreign relations of Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed confidence that the war in Ukraine could be resolved swiftly if the United States, under a second term of President Donald Trump, demonstrates the political will to do so. Speaking to journalists on his way back from Hungary, Erdogan emphasized that efforts by Western nations, particularly the US, could speed up the conflict's resolution.

Turkey's foreign minister will travel to Djibouti next week to attend a Turkey-Africa ministerial meeting and discuss improving cooperation between Ankara and the continent, officials from his ministry said.

Turkey's National Security Council convened on Thursday under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While the council primarily focused on the situation in the Middle East, the statement also addressed issues in the Aegean and Mediterranean, highlighting that it will not permit its efforts to promote cooperation in these regions to be exploited.

Despite progress in diplomatic relations with Turkey, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized on Sunday that the essence of Turkish revisionism remains unchanged.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a meeting of European Union ministers in Brussels next week that Ankara hopes will pave the way for improved ties with the bloc, the ministry's spokesperson said on Thursday.

I met with Erdogan and corrected him about the minority

Main opposition SYRIZA party condemned on Tuesday Turkey's decision to formally open a former Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque, while it also criticized the government's reaction as too soft. 

"SYRIZA unequivocally condemns the Turkish authoritie's decision for the operation of the Monastery of Chora as Muslim mosque," the party said in a statement. 

Delegations from Greece and Turkey were meeting in Athens on Monday as part of long-standing efforts to improve often tense relations, days after Turkey voiced objections over Greece's plans to create marine nature reserves in the Ionian and Aegean seas.

Senior Turkish and American diplomats have exchanged views on unfolding developments in the Middle East and the Ukraine-Russia war, as well as bilateral ties ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's planned trip to Washington in early May.

Senior Turkish and American officials will meet in the Turkish capital to discuss joint efforts to improve bilateral ties and discuss regional issues, including the situation in Gaza and Russia's occupation of Ukraine.

Under Secretary of State Department John Bass will be in Ankara on April 15 and 16, the State Department has announced.