Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has accused Israel of seeking a “new enemy” in Turkey following the recent US-Israeli war with Iran, stating the move is becoming a “state strategy” in Jerusalem.
“Israel Cannot Live Without an Enemy”
In a televised interview with the state-run Anadolu agency on Monday, Fidan delivered a sharp critique. “After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy,” he declared. “We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition—though not all—are seeking to declare Turkey the new enemy.”
Fidan described this as a significant and dangerous shift in Israeli policy. “This is a new development in Israel… turning into a state strategy,” he added.
Escalating Tensions and Ceasefire Warnings
The diplomatic rift has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023. It entered a new phase over the weekend when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned US counterpart Donald Trump of “possible provocations and sabotage” that could jeopardize a fragile two-week ceasefire in the Iran war.
That ceasefire, announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on April 8, ended a six-week conflict initiated by a US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on February 28. Following Erdogan’s warning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue confronting Tehran and its allies.
Turkey’s foreign ministry responded forcefully, asserting that Netanyahu’s objective is “to undermine ongoing peace negotiations and continue his expansionist policies in the region.” In a statement on April 11, the ministry referenced Netanyahu’s domestic legal troubles and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, calling him “the Hitler of our time.”
NATO Summit: A Chance to Reset with Trump
In the same interview, Fidan turned to transatlantic relations, urging NATO allies to use their July summit in Ankara to reset ties with President Trump and prepare for potential US disengagement.
Fidan expressed belief that Trump would attend the July 7-8 summit due to his “personal respect” for President Erdogan, but acknowledged the US leader’s general reluctance. Trump has recently threatened to withdraw from NATO over European members’ refusal to deploy ships to the Strait of Hormuz, adding to existing friction.
“NATO countries need to turn this Ankara Summit into an opportunity to put ties with the United States on a systematic basis,” Fidan stated. “If there will be a US withdrawal from some NATO mechanisms, there needs to be a plan and programme to phase this out so nobody is left in the open.”
He noted that allies, who long dismissed Trump’s criticism as rhetoric, are now actively planning for reduced US involvement and bolstering their own defenses.
