Trump Can Pressure Israel to Halt Gaza Fighting, Says Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan
Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that US President Donald Trump has the capacity to exert decisive pressure on Israel to halt its actions in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the American leader can act independently and wield real influence if he chooses to do so.
Speaking during the “On the Record” programme with journalist Hadley Gamble, Fidan said Türkiye believes Trump is uniquely positioned to pressure Israel, noting that Israel has violated ceasefire agreements multiple times.
“We believe that President Trump is the only person who can really put pressure on Israel,” Fidan said. “We think that Mr. Trump is independent of every objective of different lobbies, so he can really think independently and take action independently. If he wants, he has the capacity to put pressure on Israel and stop Israel’s wrong behaviour.”
Asked about the possibility of Türkiye sending troops to Gaza, Fidan referred to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement that Ankara is ready to do everything within its means to contribute to a Gaza peace plan. He said Türkiye would be willing to participate in an international stabilisation force in Gaza, but stressed that such a deployment would depend on broader discussions and international consensus.
Stability in Iran
Commenting on Iran, Fidan cautioned against any American military intervention, saying he would advise US officials against such a move.
“Don’t make it,” he said, noting that Iran is already under heavy pressure due to sanctions that have severely affected its economy and contributed to public protests. He added that while Iran remains open to negotiations, it could prepare for a worst-case scenario if it feels cornered.
“If there is only one sincere intention, which is solving the problem, I believe that there is an opportunity,” he said, emphasising that Iran’s stability is crucial for the wider region. “Stability in Iran is important for all of us.”
Fidan reiterated that Ankara believes dialogue, not force, is the only viable path to resolving disputes between Iran and the international community. He said Iran needs to adjust its foreign and security policies to unlock new opportunities, but added that he does not foresee regime change resulting from current developments.
Regional outlook
On broader regional dynamics, Fidan expressed cautious optimism, particularly regarding Syria, and voiced hope that the ceasefire in Gaza would hold. He said recent developments in Syria show that regional countries, the US and the international community have, for the first time, moved quickly together on a Middle East issue.
“If we can repeat this on other problems in our region or globe, we can really make quick achievements,” he said, while noting that the region “will never be the same” and that Türkiye’s efforts are focused on improving conditions compared to the past.
Addressing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Fidan said Türkiye believes regional unity is essential and expressed confidence that the two countries would eventually resolve their differences.
Türkiye–EU relations
On Türkiye’s European Union accession process, Fidan said membership would remain elusive as long as the bloc maintains what he described as an identity-based political mindset towards Türkiye. He argued that the EU has prioritised differences in religion and civilisation, preventing it from becoming a truly supranational, trans-civilisational institution.
He said Europe could have been stronger, and Brexit might not have occurred, had Türkiye joined the EU. While economic ties between Ankara and Brussels remain strong, he noted that security cooperation is still insufficient.
US policy shift and Syria
Fidan also criticised US cooperation with the PKK terror group during former President Barack Obama’s administration, saying the policy, initially intended to be temporary in the fight against Daesh, has continued for more than a decade. He welcomed what he described as a major policy correction under Trump, stressing that a NATO ally cannot support a terrorist organisation hostile to another NATO member.
On Syria, Fidan said international reports often wrongly portray the YPG/SDF as the sole representative of Syrian Kurds, noting that the PKK has forced numerous Kurdish political parties into exile. He said Syrian Kurds want to live as equal and dignified citizens within a unified Syria.
Türkiye, he said, supports equal constitutional citizenship for all Syrians, allowing everyone to live freely with their own identity and religion. He added that growing regional cooperation on issues such as Gaza and Syria reflects increasing goodwill, particularly between Türkiye and Arab countries, and signals a preference for dialogue over confrontation in regional relations.
