Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a prominent figure in the Islamic world, used his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to touch on several key points. He emphasized the need to expand Security Council membership, touted Turkey’s efforts against ISIS, and subtly urged China to recognize the rights of its Muslim population.
Erdogan also took the opportunity to express his country’s gratitude for international humanitarian aid following a series of devastating earthquakes in February. He assumed a leadership role in addressing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and strongly condemned Quran burnings in Europe, even though they are protected by freedom of expression laws.
Speaking on the first day of the annual Assembly, Erdogan discussed various global conflicts, with a focus on the humanitarian crisis in Syria stemming from a decade-long civil war. He also delved into Turkey’s connections with Africa, Latin America, and the Western world in a speech that exceeded the recommended 15-minute time limit for General Assembly speakers.
Erdogan’s speech began with a call for diplomacy in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of preserving Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. However, his tone shifted when discussing Syria, where Turkey has an ongoing military presence aimed at eliminating Syrian Kurdish groups that once allied with the United States against ISIS.
Erdogan asserted that the primary threat to Syria’s unity and stability comes from support provided to terrorist organizations by external powers. He criticized countries cooperating with these organizations for their own interests, particularly in Syria and Iraq, while claiming that Turkey had played a pivotal role in defeating ISIS.
In reality, Turkey’s role in combating ISIS has been subject to criticism and accusations of supporting jihadist groups during the conflict.
Erdogan also briefly mentioned the Uyghur population in East Turkistan, which has faced allegations of genocide by China since 2019. While he has previously labeled China’s actions as genocide, he opted for a more cautious stance during this address, expressing “sensitivity” toward human rights violations against the Uyghurs while emphasizing respect for China’s territorial integrity.
In his concluding remarks, Erdogan accused the West of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. He highlighted recent Quran burnings in Europe as “unbearable” and criticized populist politicians for encouraging such actions under the guise of freedom of expression, suggesting that such trends could harm the region’s future.
