Erdoğan: We can always discuss the South Caucasus with Trump

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements at a press conference held after the NATO Summit meeting in Ankara. Answering journalists' questions regarding current agenda topics, Erdoğan made assessments especially on regional issues and foreign policy. Among his statements, the steps he mentioned regarding possible meetings with the former President of the USA, Donald Trump, were of great importance. The future of the South Caucasus region and the regional peace process were also among the main topics on Erdoğan's agenda. These statements received wide coverage in the international public opinion and diplomatic circles.

Erdoğan stated that he could discuss the South Caucasus issue with the former US President Donald Trump over the phone whenever he wanted. From these statements, it is understood that both leaders are highly familiar with regional issues and their channels of communication are always open. It is predicted that the diplomatic contacts that have continued since the Trump era could also create a ground for possible cooperation or consultation in the future. Erdoğan's statement is considered as part of Turkey's strategy of involving major powers in the process regarding its Caucasus policy. Therefore, it was emphasized once again that steps in the South Caucasus require close dialogue not only with regional actors but also with global players.

Meanwhile, President Erdoğan also shared an important detail by providing information about the official agenda items of the NATO Summit. He clearly stated that within the framework of the said summit meeting, the participants did not bring the South Caucasus issue to the table in any way. This situation shows that NATO's main focus during this period was concentrated on different security and defense issues. It is thought that the meeting mostly addressed the alliance's internal dynamics, collective security issues, and other global crises. The absence of such a vital regional issue as the South Caucasus from the summit agenda indicates that this topic needs to be addressed separately in bilateral and multilateral platforms.

It was observed that the NATO Summit held in Ankara progressed at an extremely intense pace diplomatically. The comprehensive press conference held by President Erdoğan after the meeting was closely followed by the international and local media. The questions from the press revealed not only NATO processes but also Turkey's wider regional policies. The leader's statements provided clues about how the government plans to manage its relations with its allies, particularly the USA. Therefore, the press conference was used as a strategic tool to share the government's domestic and foreign policy vision with the public.

The fact that the South Caucasus, a regional issue, has remained so prominent in world politics clearly reveals the geopolitical importance of the region. Erdoğan's signaling towards Trump also brought about speculations that regional balances could be discussed again in the upcoming period. Diplomacy experts are closely examining whether such high-level communication signals will pave the way for new steps to be taken in the Caucasus. The intention of the two countries to consult on regional issues in line with their common interests is an indicator of the search for stability in terms of international relations. In the upcoming period, the whole world is curiously waiting to see what momentum a possible new telephone diplomacy between the leaders will bring to the region.