JAKARTA - The war led by Israel against countries in the Middle East region is costing the world more and more, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, warning that rising tensions, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, are pushing the global economy into chaos, as the consequences are felt far beyond the Middle East.
"As the war progresses, new complications continue to emerge," President Erdogan said at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, pointing to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a development that had caused serious turmoil in the global economy, launching Daily Sabah (25/3).
Underlining the importance of the strategic waterway, through which about 20 percent of global energy trade passes, President Erdogan warned that disruptions had forced some countries to take steps to reduce fuel consumption.
He stressed that the economic burden of the conflict is increasing every day, underlining the urgent need to end the war.
Furthermore, President Erdogan also called for immediate action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his closest circle, describing them as responsible for the ongoing violence and urging all countries to take bold and proactive steps for regional and humanitarian peace.
Turkey, he said, is among the countries that accurately assess developments and act with "state wisdom," while maintaining a balanced and principled position.
"We are determined to keep our country outside the circle of fire," added President Erdogan, warning of the risk of conflict turning into a prolonged friction war between regional countries.
He stressed that Turkey did not want to see the conflict spread further, reiterating Ankara's call for de-escalation and a quick resolution.
President Erdogan's statement comes amid growing concerns over the wider economic and geopolitical consequences of the war, as global energy markets and trade routes face increasing pressure.
Turkey, Iran's neighbor and a NATO ally of the United States, is eager to de-escalate the conflict.
Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt exchanged messages between Washington and Tehran over the weekend, the United States-based Axios reported on Monday.
It is known that the Middle East region is heating up along with the Israeli and US attacks on Iran on February 28, which have killed more than 1,300 people to date, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets. Iran has also effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since early March.
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