Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan objected on Monday to plans announced by the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, and the EU to build a trade corridor connecting South Asia to Europe and bypass Turkey.
However, the Turkish leader supported India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Erdoğan Opposes IMEC Project, Acknowledges Iraq Road Project
“We say that there is no corridor without Turkey,” Erdogan told journalists at the G20 conference in India on Sunday. “Turkey is an important production and trade base. The most convenient line for traffic from east to west has to pass through Turkey,” he remarked.
India-Middle East-European Corridor (IMEC) was launched at the G20 Summit on Saturday, pledging cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the EU, France, Italy, Germany, and the US.
India and other G20 countries have signed an MoU to establish the IMEC to boost economic development. The project intends to construct railway lines and marine routes connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel to Greece and Europe.
Erdoğan acknowledged that other nations are striving to increase their influence through trade corridors and emphasised Turkey’s support for the Iraq Development Road Project, which aims to connect the Gulf to Turkey and Europe via a railway and roadway via ports in the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq.
The Turkish president stated that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed “made a much more determined suggestion on this issue on Saturday.” Erdogan quoted the UAE President’s recommendation that discussions be completed within 60 days and the project’s foundations laid immediately.
The proposed Iraq Development Road project comprises a dual-track railway, a new highway, logistic centres, industrial complexes, and oil and gas pipelines. The project’s estimated investment is roughly $17 billion, with annual returns of $4 billion and creation of at least 100,000 jobs.
Erdoğan Supports India’s Bid for UNSC Permanent Seat
Erdoğan supported India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC, stating, “A country like India being there on the UN Security Council, we would be proud. But as you know, the world is bigger than… larger than five.”
According to the Turkish president, India is Turkey’s greatest trading partner in South Asia, and the two nations have significant economic potential. He thanked Indian PM Narendra Modi for “a gracious and very successful term of presidency.”
Furthermore, Erdoğan proposed a rotational mechanism in which every UN member has the potential to become a UNSC member.
Turkey Opposes India-Middle East Corridor, Supports India’s Permanent Membership Bid in UNSC: Erdoğan
Erdoğan acknowledged that other nations are striving to increase their influence through trade corridors and emphasised Turkey’s support for the Iraq Development Road Project.
September 12, 2023
IMAGE SOURCE: Getty ImagesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.