Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday warned against hostile moves aimed at encircling Türkiye, saying the country would not allow its path as an independent and prosperous state to be blocked.
"Let no one's imagination be led elsewhere by our dignified and calm stance. On these lands that we have made our homeland by giving and taking lives, we will allow no one to carry out an operation," Erdoğan said after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
He said officials discussed justice, the economy, urban planning and making streets safer, among other issues, and took decisions aimed at improving citizens' welfare, peace and security.
Erdoğan said messages delivered from Malazgirt had reached their intended recipients, pointing to reactions that followed.
"We will not watch from the sidelines hostile steps aimed at encircling our country in our region. Türkiye is against no country, society, faith, or culture. It is not possible for it to be otherwise. But Türkiye is against every illegality, every injustice, every act of tyranny and every form of banditry, regardless of where it comes from, and will continue to be so," he said.
"We want to continue our path as an independent, stable and prosperous state in this difficult geography. We will never allow this path to be blocked. Those who are disturbed by our country becoming stronger and by our efforts to establish peace and stability in our region cannot turn us back from our path," Erdoğan added.
"No one should doubt that no one has the power to change the course of history. Türkiye will shake hands with its friends, embrace its relatives and reconnect with its brothers. Those who are friends with Türkiye will win, while those who harbor hostility will lose," he said.
"We are determined to work to ensure that unity and solidarity take root throughout our broader region in line with our policy of alliance and unity. We will not show the slightest hesitation in this."
Erdoğan recalled that Türkiye marked Victory Day on Aug. 30 under the shadow of news of an accident in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
"In the tragic accident caused by the capsizing of a passenger ship traveling from Girne to Tasucu in TRNC, 239 of our brothers and sisters were rescued, while unfortunately 14 lost their lives. Fourteen of our brothers and sisters remain missing. In cooperation with the TRNC, we are currently supporting search efforts with nine ships and 11 aircraft," he said.
"Following the accident, the authorities in the TRNC launched an investigation, and eight crew members, including the captain, were detained. The judicial process is being closely followed by our official institutions," Erdoğan added.
He added search and rescue efforts were also continuing for the 10 crew members of a dry cargo ship that sank off Silivri on Sept. 2 following a collision that appeared to have been caused by human error.
Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue developing its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which he described as complementary to the UN.
"Türkiye is a country whose star is increasingly rising in the world with its historical and cultural heritage and its great economic and human potential. As a nation, we are heirs to a great empire that spread across three continents. We have historical ties and kinship relations with a very broad geography," he said.
"We are making efforts to advance our cooperation with all countries through an approach that places Türkiye and Türkiye's interests at the center of our foreign policy."
He said the SCO was among the leading regional organizations with which Türkiye's relations had intensified in recent years.
Erdoğan said the organization represents a population of nearly 4 billion and an economy approaching $35 trillion, describing it as having significant potential. Türkiye's annual trade volume with member countries is approaching $150 billion, he said, adding that Ankara wants to increase the figure in a more balanced structure.
Erdoğan said he attended the organization's leaders' summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 1 as an honorary guest, where Türkiye's importance to the organization was highlighted, particularly on energy security and connectivity. He said he also held talks with several heads of state and government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We will continue to develop our relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which we regard as complementary to the United Nations," the president said.
Turning to regional conflicts, Erdoğan blamed Israel for the current Mideast war and its wider consequences.
"The bill for the war that began with Israel's schemes and provocations is being paid not only by the Iranian people, not only by our brotherly Gulf countries, but by everyone, whether involved or not," he said.
He also accused Israel of undermining June's framework agreement for ending the war.
"Once again, it is Israel's lies and sabotage that have rendered ineffective the Islamabad accord, which brought relief to our entire region," Erdoğan said. "The storm of crises in our region will not subside until this radical mindset, which sees even the slightest possibility of peace as a threat, changes."
Erdoğan said Türkiye was also feeling the effects of the global crisis centered on Iran, noting that important economic data had been released over the past week.
"We are very pleased that the momentum we have achieved in exports continues. Our goods exports in August rose 8.1% from the same month last year to $23.5 billion. With this figure, we broke a record for August exports," he said.
The Turkish president said exports rose 4% in the first eight months of 2026 to $185 billion, while annualized exports reached $280.3 billion, up 4.2%. He said this left a gap of $1.7 billion to Türkiye's year-end export target of $282 billion.
"On the inflation front, like the rest of the world, we are feeling the effects of the Iran-centered global crisis. Oil prices have reached historic levels in many countries around the world, including the US. Particularly in diesel prices, unprecedented increases are being experienced," Erdoğan said.
He said increases in oil prices would continue to put pressure on everyone unless the deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz was resolved.
Despite regional tensions, Erdoğan said Türkiye would maintain its economic course. "Although we are making some adjustments to our targets, we continue to keep the Turkish economy on the path of development and growth," he said.
He pointed to the Medium-Term Program announced the previous day as the latest example of that approach.
Erdoğan said the Medium-Term Program sets out Türkiye's economic road map for the next three years, including measures to strengthen agriculture, industry and services, particularly tourism, increase high-technology and value-added production, expand export capacity and further improve the economy's competitiveness.
"Despite the difficulties arising from geopolitical risks and uncertainties, there is no change whatsoever in our policies prioritizing investment, employment, production and exports. Likewise, our determined stance in the fight against inflation will continue," he said.
"We will continue taking steps that will increase the welfare of our nation and provide permanent solutions to the structural problems of our economy," Erdoğan said.
"From economic security to the business and investment environment, from manufacturing industry to price stability, from public finances to trade, employment and human capital, we will do whatever is necessary to make the Turkish economy stronger, more competitive and more resilient in every area," he added.
The president congratulated those who contributed to preparing the Medium-Term Program.
Erdoğan said the Cabinet meeting also addressed the COP31 summit, which will be held in Antalya on Nov. 9-20.
He said preparations were continuing to ensure Türkiye successfully hosts the climate change conference, describing it as one of the world's largest platforms for climate diplomacy. The event will be held at the Antalya EXPO site, covering 1.1 million square meters.
"We are renovating this area and making all preparations, from infrastructure to transportation, security, and accommodation. In this context, we have taken a step that will also greatly ease traffic in Antalya, and our TOKI has completed 38 kilometers of road construction," Erdoğan said.
He said the investments would remain after the summit ends, and benefit Antalya and the wider country.
"Our guests will leave, and the summit will end, but these roads and investments, as in Ankara, will remain for our nation and be used by our people for many years. The EXPO area, in its renovated form, will become a new attraction point for Antalya. Therefore, our tourism professionals, tradespeople, citizens, Antalya, and in other words, our entire country will benefit," he said.
Erdoğan said more than 190 countries are expected to participate in the climate summit, with more than 100,000 visitors expected. Türkiye, he added, would host it in a manner befitting the country, just like July's NATO summit.
Erdoğan also congratulated Türkiye's women's volleyball team, known as the "Sultans of the Net," for defeating Italy 3-2 in the final of the 2026 CEV Women's European Championship on Sunday, and winning the European title for the second consecutive time.
