Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing it of making “wrong calculations” concerning the Middle East. Erdogan stated that following “Zionist lies” will only exacerbate the ongoing conflicts in the region.
Erdogan’s remarks come after Turkey rejected Trump’s plan to forcibly remove over two million Palestinians from Gaza, take control of the area, and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Turkey also condemned Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide, calling for international action against the Israeli government.
“Unfortunately, the United States is making the wrong calculations about our region. One should not adopt an approach that disregards the history, values, and accumulation of this region,” Erdogan said in a statement to reporters during a flight from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
Erdogan expressed hope that Trump would fulfill his campaign promises by working toward peace, rather than creating new conflicts. He also noted the lack of real signs of a ceasefire in Gaza, despite an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, adding that the Muslim world has yet to take collective action on the issue.
