Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in an exclusive interview with NBC News, stated that Ukraine’s proposal for NATO membership should not be rushed, and that the U.S. and other NATO members are not in favor of Ukraine joining the alliance. This comes as a blow to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is set to present his proposal for fast NATO membership to President Joe Biden. Erdoğan’s comments suggest that he wants to consider the stance of other NATO members before making a decision.
Erdoğan’s relationship with Russia is also gaining importance, as he mentioned that relations with Russia are expanding in various areas. He has been criticized for attending the BRICS conference in Russia, signaling a move towards closer ties with the bloc of developing countries. In the past, Erdoğan has faced criticism over his stance on Israel, with harsh criticisms at the United Nations General Assembly for Western countries’ failure to take a stance against Israeli actions in Gaza.
Overall, Erdoğan’s stance on Ukraine, Russia, and Israel highlights the complex alliances that America’s next president will need to navigate. Despite criticizing the U.S., Erdoğan stated that he is prepared to work with whichever administration wins the White House, emphasizing the importance of maintaining close relations with all countries on a global scale.
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