UN General Assembly
2021

More than that, it makes Turkey’s relationship with Europe that much more complicated. Let me be absolutely clear: we will continue to protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights across our territory on land, at sea and in our airspace. At the same time, I will spare no effort to continue reaching out to Turkey to explore avenues of cooperation. I have a vision for the eastern Mediterranean. Instead of fighting the previous century’s battles over hydrocarbons — a fading commodity — we can, and have to, join forces and cooperate against new common enemies. They include the climate crisis, which affects both our countries equally, as well as the threat posed by illegal migration, in which Turkey has an important role to play in cooperating with us to eradicate the networks of illegal smugglers that prey on the desperation of vulnerable people. There is much our two countries can do together. We are bound by history and geography to coexist, and it is in our common interests to do so peacefully and prosperously.