Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Trkiye and Japan, as the 'two ends of Asia,' to unite and act as the world's collective conscience, in an opinion piece he wrote for one of Japan's leading newspapers, Nikkei Shimbun.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized the enduring friendship between Trkiye and Japan, recalling the 1890 Ertugrul Frigate tragedy near Japan's Kushimoto coast as a pivotal moment that showcased the Japanese people's compassion. He noted that this historical bond has manifested itself in various fields, including infrastructure projects and healthcare cooperation, with a partnership built on trust, sincerity, and dignity.
Erdogan highlighted the synergy between Turkish determination and Japanese engineering, which has had an impact beyond both countries, particularly in the Middle East, and holds strong potential for joint projects in Africa, Central Asia, and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine and Syria. He pointed out the current global challenges, such as economic instability, energy and food insecurity, climate change, and technological risks, emphasizing that no state can resolve these issues alone and calling for collective action through humanitarian diplomacy.
The Turkish president stressed that both nations share a mindset that prioritizes dignity and human honour, making it easier for them to act jointly in foreign policy. He highlighted the cooperation between civil society, aid agencies, and development organizations, such as Trkiye's TIKA and Japan's JICA, and the mutual support during natural disasters, referencing Japan's assistance following Trkiye's 2023 earthquake and Trkiye's aid after Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Addressing the situation in Gaza, Erdogan stated that humanity's conscience is facing a severe test, with children starving, hospitals shut down, and millions deprived of basic necessities due to Israel's actions. He reaffirmed Ankara's stance on the crisis, urging Japan to join Trkiye in amplifying efforts to alleviate suffering in Gaza through peaceful diplomacy and regional influence.
Erdogan concluded by emphasizing that the world can only achieve a fairer, safer, and more humane future through collective will and effort, standing in solidarity against oppression as both a historical duty and a matter of human dignity.