Turkish president reiterates regional peace and sovereignty, outlines defence cooperation, technological ambitions and efforts to bring wanted suspects back to Türkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday that Türkiye would submit the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament in the coming days for ratification, as he reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to regional security, diplomatic solutions and cooperation among regional countries.

Speaking at a gathering in Türkiye, Erdoğan said the three countries were continuing work to establish the institutional framework for the agreement, which was signed on Aug. 7.

He said defence cooperation would focus on collective defence, regional cooperation and the development of a permanent institutional structure to implement the pact.

“I would like to emphasize that, as in NATO, activities under the joint defence agreement will also be conducted on the basis of our national legislation,” Erdoğan said.

Rejecting claims that Türkiye’s position differed from the principles it had consistently upheld, he said Ankara approached regional developments without ethnic or sectarian bias.

“Türkiye’s position, sensitivities, and the principles it upholds are clear. We never view events through an ethnic or sectarian lens,” he said.

Erdoğan also expressed condolences for those killed in attacks in Saudi Arabia, including people performing the Umrah pilgrimage, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“Türkiye stands with Saudi Arabia and our Saudi brothers and sisters in the face of these attacks that violate law and humanity,” he said.

Erdoğan Calls for Regional Peace and Diplomacy

Erdoğan warned that conflict and instability were spreading across the region, with tensions extending from Lebanon to Yemen and Iran.

He said Türkiye sought peace and stability across the region and would continue advocating solutions based on dialogue, diplomacy and regional ownership rather than military confrontation.

“Despite the belt of crises that have surrounded it for some time, Türkiye is increasingly consolidating its position as an island of stability, trust, and peace,” he said.

“We advocate resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield, based on the principle of regional ownership,” he added.

The president stressed that respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity remained fundamental to Türkiye’s foreign policy.

“Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is our fundamental principle,” Erdoğan said, warning that fragmentation and division served the interests of forces seeking to destabilize the region.

He reiterated that Ankara would continue working to preserve peace and prevent regional disputes from escalating further.

Erdoğan Highlights Türkiye’s Technology and Healthcare Investments

Turning to domestic developments, Erdoğan recalled his Oct. 3 visit to southeastern Şanlıurfa province, where he attended TEKNOFEST Southeastern Türkiye and inaugurated the newly completed Şanlıurfa City Hospital.

He described the technology festival as a major demonstration of young people’s capacity to research, innovate and develop homegrown technologies, congratulating participants who received awards and achieved high rankings.

“There, we once again saw that Türkiye’s future is rising in the hands of young people who think, research, produce, and develop their own technology,” he said.

Erdoğan also highlighted the opening of Şanlıurfa City Hospital and its connecting roads, describing the project as a major investment in the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

The project represents an investment of 39 billion Turkish liras, equivalent to about $932 million at the exchange rate cited in the supplied figures.

The hospital has 500,000 square metres of indoor space, 2,000 beds, 451 outpatient examination rooms and 60 operating theatres, alongside other medical facilities.

Erdoğan said the complex would provide residents with modern, high-quality healthcare and congratulated the institutions involved in completing the project.

Türkiye Seeks Stronger Presence in Space

Erdoğan also discussed Türkiye’s ambitions in space exploration, referring to the opening of the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya on Oct. 7, the first time the country had hosted the event.

He said the congress brought together experts from 111 countries and reflected Türkiye’s efforts to expand its role in space research and technology.

“Türkiye is making intensive efforts to establish a stronger presence in space and develop our own technology,” he said.

The president announced that production, assembly and integration had been completed for a spacecraft developed under Türkiye’s Lunar Research Program.

The 3.5-tonne vehicle, which has a domestic production rate exceeding 80%, is undergoing system-level environmental testing, he said.

Erdoğan presented the project as part of Türkiye’s broader drive to strengthen domestic technological capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign systems.

He also referred to a ceremony held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Oct. 6 to mark the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year, during which the 2026 Council of Higher Education Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented.

He wished students, academics and the wider higher education community success in the new academic year.

Erdoğan Says Türkiye Brought Back Hundreds of Wanted People

Addressing the International Justice Summit held in Istanbul on Oct. 9, Erdoğan said criminal activity increasingly crossed national borders, requiring greater international cooperation to ensure that suspects could not evade justice by fleeing abroad.

“The reality is that the geography of crime is no longer confined within the borders of a single country,” he said.

He cited a range of offences, including ordinary criminal activity, municipal embezzlement, drug trafficking and membership in terrorist organizations, arguing that those who violated the law should not feel safe simply because they had left the country where they were wanted.

“The reach of our state is close behind those who flee justice or believe they can escape it,” Erdoğan said.

According to the president, Türkiye secured the extradition of 294 people during the first nine months of 2026. Authorities also brought another 736 people back to the country during the same period in connection with various wanted-person searches, he said.

“No matter where they hide, we will continue to pursue those who threaten the lives and property of our people,” Erdoğan added.

Across his remarks, the president linked Türkiye’s defence partnerships and diplomatic initiatives with its broader goals of regional stability, domestic development, technological self-reliance and cross-border cooperation against crime. (ILKHA)