Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has delivered a strong message about Türkiye’s role in the region, saying his country will not bow to outside pressure or allow other actors to determine its foreign policy. Erdogan said Türkiye is a great nation with a long history of helping people in need and standing with those who are suffering. He emphasized that Türkiye has supported oppressed people regardless of their religion, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims. According to Erdogan, Türkiye is not an ordinary country that can easily be influenced by political schemes or temporary pressure. He said the country has a long history and a strong national identity, and it does not depend on the approval or protection of powerful countries. Erdogan also rejected the idea that Türkiye is a newly created state that owes its position to other nations. He said Türkiye has its own historical memory and national interests and will continue making decisions based on what it believes is best for its people. The Turkish president also criticized what he described as irresponsible political actors trying to use Türkiye to gain political advantage. He said Türkiye understands what different groups are attempting to do and is aware of the risks facing the region. Erdogan warned that dangerous and violent plans are being prepared for the Middle East. He said Türkiye will do everything it can to prevent such plans from becoming reality. He also reassured Türkiye’s partners that the country will not abandon its principles or national interests. On relations with neighboring countries, particularly Syria, Erdogan said Türkiye will continue helping its neighbors recover and rebuild. He argued that criminal groups or other actors should not be allowed to prevent Türkiye from supporting countries in need. Erdogan made clear that Türkiye’s foreign policy will be decided by the Turkish people. He said no outside actor has the authority to tell Türkiye how it should conduct its international relations or where it should draw the limits of its policies. The Turkish president also said Türkiye does not have a secret agenda in the region. He insisted that Ankara’s main goals are peace, justice, stability, and security. He highlighted Türkiye’s connections with countries and communities across a wide area, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, the Gulf, Africa, the Balkans, and the Caucasus. Erdogan said Türkiye shares deep historical, cultural, and emotional ties with many people in these regions. His comments underline Türkiye’s desire to remain an independent regional power while maintaining strong relationships with neighboring countries and allies. Erdogan presented Türkiye as a country that wants to help stabilize its surroundings rather than create additional conflict. At the same time, his remarks show that Ankara intends to defend its own interests and make decisions without being dictated to by foreign governments or international power centers. Erdogan’s overall message was that Türkiye will continue following its own path. He said the country will stand by friends and partners who trust it, support its neighbors when they need help, and oppose efforts to use Türkiye for political purposes. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of peace and regional stability. Türkiye, he said, wants its surrounding region to become a place where people can live safely and peacefully while maintaining the historical relationships that connect Türkiye with its neighbors.