Türkiye warns prolonged Middle East war risks 'deepening hostilities'

2026-03-17 - 13:20

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz warned Tuesday that extending the war in the Middle East threatens to deepen hostilities through increased destruction, compounding economic and social damage across the region. The remarks came during his meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. Diplomatic push for peace "As Türkiye, we are working with all our means to prevent the escalation of tensions in our region, to strengthen channels of diplomacy and dialogue, and to open paths to peace," Yılmaz wrote on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal following the talks. The meeting reflects Ankara's active diplomatic engagement as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran enters its third week, with regional spillover effects mounting. Bilateral agenda advanced Beyond regional crisis management, Yılmaz and Anand focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Türkiye and Canada. "In our meeting, we focused on improving our bilateral relations, particularly in energy, trade, and defense," Yılmaz stated. The two officials also exchanged views on the broader implications of the US/Israel-Iran conflict and discussed regional and global developments. Yılmaz thanked Anand "for her kind visit and constructive contributions" to the talks. Türkiye's stabilizing role The meeting underscores Türkiye's positioning as a key actor capable of maintaining dialogue with multiple parties amid escalating conflict. With the war disrupting global energy markets through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and causing thousands of casualties, Ankara continues to advocate for diplomatic solutions while pursuing its own bilateral interests with NATO allies like Canada.