His Security Demands Are Not Met, President Erdogan Cancels Attending The Climate Change Summit In Glasgow

Presiden Turki Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/The Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled plans to attend the COP26 climate conference in Scotland after Britain failed to meet Ankara's demands on security arrangements, two Turkish officials told Reuters on Monday.

President Erdogan chose to return to Turkey after attending the G20 summit in Rome, Italy, instead of continuing his trip to the climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Anadolu Agency said. The Turkish presidency gave no reason for his unscheduled return.

An official speaking on condition of anonymity said there were protocol issues over the president's planned attendance at the meeting. Another Turkish official said British authorities had not complied with Turkey's requests regarding protocol and security.

"The president took such a decision because our demands regarding the number of vehicles for security, and some other security-related demands were not fully met," the senior official told Reuters, quoted on November 1.

President Erdogan was previously expected to meet US President Joe Biden in Glasgow. However, the two have met in Rome, Italy on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Last month, Turkey's parliament ratified the Paris Climate Agreement, becoming the last G20 country to do so.

Previously, Ankara had delayed ratification for years, saying it should not be classed as a developed country with reduced access to funding to support emission reductions under the treaty.

In addition, he also said Turkey has historically been responsible for a very small share of carbon emissions.

Last week, President Erdogan said Turkey had signed a memorandum of understanding under which he would secure a loan worth USD 3.2 billion to help it meet the clean energy goals set out in the Paris Agreement.