IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu commented on developments following President Erdoğan's participation in the 25th Summit of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu stated that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation covers 24% of the world's land area and 42% of the world's population and is an important bloc bringing together developing countries.

Chairperson Zeytinoğlu continued: “President Erdoğan attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, of which Türkiye is a dialogue partner. The SCO includes countries such as China, Russia and India, which account for a significant portion of the world's land area and population, as well as the Central Asian Turkic Republics, with which Türkiye has close cultural and ethnic ties. In particular, the US turning its back on global organisations under President Trump's leadership and linking its foreign economic and political relations to bilateral negotiations and bargaining under the slogan ‘America First’ has created a power and leadership vacuum in the international system. Platforms such as the SCO and BRICS, which have their origins in the Shanghai Five established in 1996, have now begun to play a more effective role in the search for a new order. It is important for Türkiye to closely monitor such formations and engage with them.

The Middle Corridor Offers Hope
Chairperson Zeytinoğlu emphasised the topics discussed at the Summit and the importance of the Middle Corridor Initiative, stating: “At this Summit, attended by our President, topics such as combating terrorism, extremism and separatism, cyber security and hybrid threats, trade and transport corridors were discussed. Although a call was made for a united front against the genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, it appears that a ceasefire has not yet been achieved. The Middle Corridor, one of the routes connecting China, one of today's most important commercial powers, with European economies, was also discussed. The Middle Corridor, which provides an alternative route to sea transport, reduces the shipping time between China and Europe to 18 days and stands out as a safer route compared to the northern route. Türkiye presents an indispensable opportunity for connecting the Middle Corridor to Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean region via ports.

The SCO Dialogue Partnership is Important but Cannot Replace the EU Goal
“While security and trade issues take centre stage at the summit, Türkiye’s participation in this platform as a dialogue partner, even if not a member, is of strategic importance. However, platforms such as the SCO should not lead to Türkiye’s EU goal being sidelined. Formations such as the SCO or BRICS are not alternatives to the EU. The EU maintains its weight as a commercial and political actor regulating the European economy. In the first six months of 2025, 59% of Türkiye's trade (43.9% of which was with the EU) was with Europe. In this respect, we must give at least as much weight to relations with Europe as we do to China and Russia.”