An exclusive interview with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan covers Turkey’s foreign policy, regional challenges, and a quarter‑century of AK Party governance.
Amid global turbulence, Erdoğan has reshaped Turkey’s political landscape. In this Al Jazeera interview, he looks back on over twenty years in office.
His political ascent started in the early 1990s with his election as Istanbul mayor. He established the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in 2001 and has secured victory in every subsequent election. After serving three terms as prime minister, he assumed the presidency in 2014 and continues to hold the office.
Marking the AK Party’s 25th anniversary, Erdoğan spoke with Al Jazeera Arabic’s Ali Al Dafiri about Turkey’s expanding influence in a changing geopolitical environment. He highlighted a recent defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, discussed the US‑Israel confrontation over Iran, and called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open while pointing to Israel as the main source of regional tension. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s firm backing of Syria’s new government and expressed steadfast solidarity with Lebanon and Gaza. Domestically, he reflected on the nation’s economic transformation and noted that pursuing EU membership is no longer a priority.
Published On 11 Sep 2026
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