Latest Recep Tayyip Erdogan News

President seals Finland's NATO bid by signing required laws

Mar. 23, 2023 11:59 AM EDT

HELSINKI (AP) — The Finnish president on Thursday formally sealed the Nordic country’s historic bid to join NATO by signing into law the required national legal amendments needed for membership in the Western military alliance. The move by President Sauli Niinistö means Finland...

In boost to opposition, Kurdish party won't field candidate

Mar. 22, 2023 10:47 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s pro-Kurdish political party and its allies said Wednesday that they won't field a candidate to run in the country's May 14 presidential election, a move that could boost an opposition bloc's chances of unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. With...

Donors pledge $7.5 billion for Turkey, Syria after quake

Mar. 20, 2023 14:01 PM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union and international donors on Monday pledged seven billion euros ($7.5 billion) to help Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated parts of the neighboring countries last month. The European Commission said after the...

Niinistö: Sweden security OK if Finland joins NATO first

Mar. 19, 2023 11:53 AM EDT

HELSINKI (AP) — Sweden won't be in a vulnerable security situation even if Finland joins NATO first, the Finnish president said Sunday, as both Nordic membership candidates negotiate bilateral military pacts with the United States. "It is possible that Finland joins NATO before...

Russia, Ukraine extend grain deal to aid world's poor

Mar. 18, 2023 18:04 PM EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — An unprecedented wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices are pushing more people into poverty was extended just before its expiration date, officials said...

Turkey's president says he will back Finland's NATO bid

Mar. 17, 2023 14:01 PM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his government would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden. The breakthrough came as Finnish President Sauli...

Hungary pressures EU by delaying Finland, Sweden NATO vote

Mar. 16, 2023 12:51 PM EDT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden and Finland dropped their longstanding military neutrality and quickly signaled their intentions to join NATO, in a striking sign of how powerful Europe's security fears had become in the shadow of Moscow's war. ...

Erdogan hints Turkey may ratify Finland's NATO membership

Mar. 15, 2023 12:03 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested Wednesday that his country may soon ratify Finland’s application to join NATO, allowing for the possibility of the country joining the military alliance separately from Sweden. Alarmed by Russia’s invasion...

Key dates in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20-year rule of Turkey

Mar. 14, 2023 03:53 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking a third consecutive term in office in elections in May, marks 20 years in power on Tuesday. The 69-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2003-2014 and as president thereafter, started as a reformist...

Erdogan sets May 14 election date as he seeks to extend rule

Mar. 10, 2023 09:25 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday formally set the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections for May 14 — a month earlier than scheduled despite the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake that killed some 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria. ...