Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint news conference on Friday that the choice of a new NATO chief will be based on two principles, such as “the strategic wisdom and fairness.”
“Nobody should have any doubt that we will make our decision within the framework of strategic wisdom and fairness,” Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul.
Erdogan said trade between the two countries reached $13.9 billion last year and that Ankara hopes to first increase it to $16 billion and then to $21.4 billion, adding that Turkish entrepreneurs provide jobs for about 80,000 people in the Netherlands thanks to the $6.4 billion investment.
The Turkish president said the visit of the Dutch prime minister is of special significance for bilateral relations between the two countries. Especially because of Rutte’s recent announcement of his intention to become the next NATO secretary general. He said they reviewed the multifaceted co-operation between the two countries and reaffirmed their determination to take bilateral relations to a new level. He highlighted:
“We noted that our commercial and economic relations continue to deepen and strengthen. The Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Türkiye. (…) New partnerships to be established in the defence industry, green and digital transformation, and energy sectors will contribute to achieving this goal,” the Turkish president added.
Erdogan also emphasised the importance of starting work on the renewal of the Customs Union with the EU as soon as possible, saying that Türkiye has once again drawn attention to the importance they attach to this issue. Ankara expects support from the Netherlands for the EU to consider relations with Turkey from a fair and strategic point of view, according to him.
Preparations for the NATO summit of heads of state and government due to be held in Washington in July were also on the agenda of the meeting. Erdogan emphasised the importance of the incoming secretary-general prioritising maintaining NATO’s primary role in Euro-Atlantic security. He said:
“Furthermore, it is essential for intense and strong efforts, similar to those of (incumbent NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg), to be made in removing sanctions, restrictions, and obstacles in the defence industry among allies.”
The Turkish president added that the fight against terrorism was also on the agenda of his meeting with Rutte. He paid special attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip and emphasised the need for action to be taken for a ceasefire, peace and stability in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused over 34,000 Palestinian deaths and 76,980 injuries.
Rutte supported Turkey regarding the situation in Gaza, noting its important role in trying to end the war in Gaza. Earlier, the ninth Goodness ship that left Turkey with 3,774 tonnes of humanitarian aid for millions of suffering Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has arrived at the Egyptian port of Al-Arish.
Rutte emphasised the importance of Turkey’s geopolitical position and influence in the region. He said Turkey represents the second largest military power in NATO after the United States, and NATO’s Southern Wing needs Turkey and its leadership in terms of the stability of the entire region and overall transatlantic relations.
Relations between Turkey and the Netherlands are developing rapidly. Between 2005 and 2022, the Netherlands’ direct investment in Turkey reached $27 billion 345 million. And during the pandemic times due to COVID, 645,601 Dutch tourists visited Turkey in 2021. In 2022, the number of tourists reached 1,244,756.
