From Putin to Biden, concert of congratulations after Erdogan's re-election

MISE À DAY

From Vladimir Putin to Joe Biden via Volodymyr Zelensky or Emmanuel Macron, several heads of state have sent their congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his victory in the Turkish presidential election on Sunday and his new five-year term at the head of the country.

The Russian president, who recently worked closely with his Turkish counterpart, considered that Mr. Erdogan's victory was “the logical result of (his) dedicated work” at the head of the country and “obvious proof” of the support of the population to its policy.

Mr. Putin referred in particular to the “efforts” made, according to him, by Mr. Erdogan “to strengthen the sovereignty of the state and pursue an independent foreign policy”.

A member of NATO, Turkey has influence in key strategic areas for Moscow, such as Syria, and has played a mediating role in the Ukrainian conflict.

“I look forward to continuing to work together as allies in NATO on bilateral issues and global challenges,” tweeted US President Joe Biden.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed his “look forward to continuing to work with the government chosen by the Turkish people”.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “look forward to continuing the close collaboration” between the United Kingdom and the Turkey.

“Congratulations to @RTErdogan,” Rishi Sunak tweeted: “I look forward to continuing the close collaboration between our countries, whether it's expanding trade or addressing security threats as leaders. 'allies within NATO'.

Emmanuel Macron was one of the first European leaders to publicly congratulate the strongman of Turkey, considering that their two countries had “tremendous challenges to be met together”.

Among these “challenges”, the French president cited, on Twitter, the “return of peace in Europe, the future of our Euro-Atlantic Alliance, the Mediterranean Sea”. “With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate, we will continue to move forward”, he certified.

In sending his congratulations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped for a “strengthening” of ties between Kyiv and Ankara, in particular to ensure “security” in Europe.

“We hope for a further strengthening of the strategic partnership for the good of our two countries as well as the strengthening of our cooperation for the security and stability of Europe,” he said on Twitter.

Turkey had played a crucial role in renewing the agreement under which Moscow agreed to let Kvïv export its grain for a limited period.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he hoped Mr. Erdogan's re-election would give “new impetus” to relations between the two countries to “advance their common agenda”.

On Twitter, the leader described the two countries “close partners and allies” and recalled that “their populations and their economies are deeply intertwined”.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres congratulated Mr. Erdogan and “would looks forward to further strengthening cooperation between Türkiye and the United Nations,” said spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, using the spelling of Turkey's official name.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hailed this re-election: “our common security is a priority for the future”. Sweden, a candidate for entry into NATO, is still faced with the veto of Turkey, which accuses the country of being a refuge for “terrorists”, in particular members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel “welcomed” in posts on Twitter to “further develop EU-Turkey relations”.

Turkey is officially a candidate for the EU, but accession negotiations started in 2005 have been stalled for several years.

The EU has difficult relations with Ankara, which remains an essential partner , particularly in terms of migration.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman sent his “sincere congratulations and best wishes for success” to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a statement from the press agency SPA.

Relations between Riyadh and Ankara were frozen for more than three years after the late 2018 assassination in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. At the time, President Erdogan accused “the highest levels of the Saudi government of ordering the assassination. The closure last year by the Turkish justice of the assassination trial paved the way for rapprochement between the two regional powers.