World politics
fromwww.dw.com
1 day agoTurkey caught in the middle as Iran war escalates
Turkey seeks to mediate US-Iran tensions while protecting its economy, security, and borders from regional conflict spillover.
What were these concessions? They were predominantly related to denying Turkiye any presence in the Gaza stabilisation force and to US approval for an Israeli strike on Iran. Netanyahu failed on both counts. Trump specifically referred to his good relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and spoke of Bibi's respect for him, too. With regard to Iran, Trump mentioned Iran's willingness to make a deal and provided clear guidelines for American involvement while saying nothing about authorising a solo Israeli operation.
Pope Leo XIV set off for his first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon on Thursday, arriving in Ankara for the first leg of his visit. The trip is being seen as an opportunity to strengthen relations between those of the Christian and Muslim faith. The primary focus is to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea Christianity's first ecumenical council that produced the Nicene Creed that is still used by most of the world's Christians today.
On September 23, Erdogan took part in a Gaza-focused meeting with Trump, with whom he met again two days later at the White House. After that meeting, the US president said that he had asked his Turkish counterpart to do something for him, without elaborating. Erdogan later said the request was to help persuade Hamas, with which Turkey has a close relationship.