Erdogan: The Making of Modern Turkiye

What the report says

Al Jazeera published an exclusive video interview with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marking 25 years of the AK Party. In the conversation with Al Jazeera Arabic’s Ali Al Dafiri, Erdogan discusses Turkiye’s foreign policy, regional conflicts and the country’s role in a shifting geopolitical environment.

The article says Erdogan looks back on his long political rise, from becoming mayor of Istanbul in the early 1990s to founding the Justice and Development Party in 2001, then serving as prime minister before becoming president in 2014. He is presented as still in office and as the central figure behind Turkiye’s modern political course.

According to Al Jazeera, Erdogan highlights a recent defence agreement involving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and comments on tensions linked to the war involving Iran and Israel. He argues for continued maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz and describes Israel as the main force driving regional instability. He also voices support for Syria’s new administration and solidarity with Lebanon and Gaza.

The interview also touches on domestic issues, including Turkiye’s economic changes and Erdogan’s view that EU accession is no longer a priority. More broadly, the piece places the interview in the context of Turkiye’s growing regional influence and Erdogan’s long tenure as one of the country’s most consequential leaders.