Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Türkiye conducts an independent foreign policy based on its national interests, saying Ankara maintains dialogue with all actors while determining its own diplomatic priorities.
"There is no need for us to make other countries' enemies our enemies as well. We are mature enough to determine our own friends and enemies. We have alliances. Within NATO, we are an ally," Fidan told CNN Turk in an interview.
Balanced diplomacy
Fidan said Türkiye sees dialogue as its primary foreign policy tool and maintains relations with all parties.
He said Ankara has relations with Russia, Iran, Europe, NATO allies, and Asia-Pacific countries while pursuing its national interests.
Managing relations with actors that have conflicting interests requires careful diplomacy, he added.
Contacts with Russia
Fidan said he recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, conveying the Turkish president's messages and discussing regional developments.
According to Fidan, the talks covered the Russia-Ukraine war and developments in the Caucasus, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Putin reaffirmed that Russia remains committed to the position agreed with US President Donald Trump in Alaska regarding the Ukraine peace process, he added.
EU relations
On relations with the EU, Fidan said both Türkiye and the bloc agree that the Customs Union should be modernised.
"The Customs Union needs to be modernised and updated. Both sides agree on this, but there is a blocking issue. There is the stance taken by the Greek Cypriot side. There are problems in overcoming that," he said.
Fidan also said Türkiye continues to work towards visa liberalisation with the EU while calling for improvements in current visa practices until that goal is achieved.
He added that several legislative steps remain to fulfil the remaining criteria.
'360-degree foreign policy'
Fidan said Türkiye's recent diplomatic engagements reflect its "360-degree foreign policy" approach aimed at strengthening security, expanding trade and increasing international cooperation.
He said Ankara is expanding cooperation with countries, including South Korea, Canada, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific nations, in areas ranging from artificial intelligence and nuclear energy to trade.
Fidan also said Türkiye has strengthened ties with Bangladesh's new administration and supported the country's successful bid for the presidency of the UN General Assembly.
Erdogan, Trump share 'strong will' to lift CAATSA sanctions
Turning to US relations, Fidan said that President Erdogan and US President Donald Trump share a "strong will" to lift sanctions imposed on Türkiye under the US’ Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), adding that both governments are taking necessary steps to resolve the issue.
Fidan said the two leaders expressed their determination during a meeting at the White House last September and instructed members of their Cabinets to work towards a solution.
"There is a strong will from both our president and President Trump" to lift the sanctions, said Fidan.
"When the two leaders met in Washington last September, they declared their political will on this issue, and we, as Cabinet ministers, were instructed to resolve it. The defence minister and I are working intensively on this."
He added that CAATSA remains the only permanent institutional hurdle in Turkish-US relations.
"Specific decisions regarding Türkiye can occasionally be taken, but institutionally, the only lasting negative issue at the moment is the CAATSA sanctions," he said.
Next week’s NATO summit in Türkiye, Trump-Erdogan ties
Fidan also welcomed the confirmation that Trump will attend next week's NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara, calling it positive news for the alliance.
"This in itself is important and positive news for the NATO community," he said.
"They also added that President Trump is attending because President Erdogan made the invitation. If President Erdogan had not been the one inviting him, he would not have attended. This has now become a very significant strategic equation."
Given current global conflicts, shifting alliances and geopolitical challenges, Fidan said Erdogan's international standing has become increasingly important.
Israel's policies in the region
Responding to a question about Israel's influence in the Iran-US talks, Fidan said, "Israel, as unanimously defined by the international community, is a disruptive, 'irritant,' a country ruled by a ruthless gang that brings instability, oppression, bloodshed, and massacres everywhere, unfortunately."
Fidan stated that while there is largely consensus within the international community regarding the nature of Israel's policies, the "perception of Israel" that has been formed over the years has long prevented many countries from seeing the true picture.
Fidan noted that the US political decision-making mechanisms are extremely complex, saying, "Everyone knows how the internal political mechanisms are formed. There are very complex structural mechanisms. There is a manipulative system created by them. A person who emerges from that system needs to act in accordance with the requirements of the system, serving certain goals of Zionism, to remain within that system. This is a systemic problem that they need to solve among themselves."
