President Erdoğan delivered a speech at SCO Summit

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“SCO HAS A STRUCTURE THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR MULTIDIMENSIONAL FOREIGN POLICY”

“Esteemed heads of state and government, I greet you with my most heartfelt sentiments on the behalf of myself and my nation. I particularly extend my condolences to the nations who lost their citizens in the natural disaster that recently hit Nepal. I would like to offer my gratitude to those who contributed to organizing this summit, first and foremost my treasured brother Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzstan. I congratulate Laos, which has been accepted as a dialogue partner. I also would like to take this opportunity to wish success to Kyrgyzstan since it has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.

I consider it valuable that we will be addressing the contributions to the multipolar international system during our gathering today. Representing nearly 3.5 billion people and 35 trillion dollars of GDP, the SCO has turned into one of the indispensable elements of the multipolar order over the past 25 years. We view the SCO, which brings the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East together on a common ground, as a supporter and complement to the United Nations. The SCO has a structure that particularly aligns with our multidimensional foreign policy centered on regional ownership. As Türkiye, we assume responsibility to resolve the conflicts in our surrounding region through dialogue and diplomacy, and continue our endeavors for the establishment of peace, calm and stability in our region and across the world.

“WE WILL BE SEEKING TO ENHANCE OUR COOPERATION WITH THE SCO IN EVERY AREA”

We are of the opinion that the SCO can play a role not only in restoring peace and stability but also in such areas as energy supply security by building uninterrupted and secure transportation corridors, which are critically important for the prosperity of the peoples. I would like to highlight our country’s critical role in the SCO geography’s access to Western markets, particularly in terms of the diversification of energy corridors and the management of geopolitical risks. We wish for the further harmonization of the Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor Initiative with the Belt and Road Initiative, and attach great importance to the cooperation within the SCO in this regard. We will be seeking to enhance our cooperation in every area with the SCO, which we see as a rising star.

One of the primary aims of our endeavors for a more just order is undoubtedly to leave future generations a more stable, more prosperous and more livable world. Issues such as climate change, irregular migration, terrorism, transnational crimes and food safety now pose a threat to many countries. As Türkiye, we aim to do our part in combatting climate change’s negative impacts on various geographies. To this end, we will be hosting the COP31 summit in Antalya on November 11-12, 2026. I would like to note that we will be pleased to see you, our treasured friends, with us at that important summit.

“MAKKAH JOINT DEFENSE ALLIANCE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PEACE”

At the end of my remarks, let me reiterate my belief that the SCO, with the motivation it draws from the Shanghai soul, will assume an important role in the construction of a truly multipolar world. I wish success to Pakistan, which will take over the term presidency from Kyrgyzstan. I hope that our meetings will lead to auspicious developments for our region and for our respective countries.

The Makkah Joint Defense Alliance, which we implemented with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, will significantly contribute to regional and global peace on the basis of regional ownership and collective deterrence. As we are discussing peace, we shouldn’t forget Lebanon and Gaza, where 74 thousand people, mostly children and women, were killed in Israeli attacks. Our entire region is paying the price for these aggressive policies.”