Turkey Eyes Closer Ties With China-Russia Bloc

Turkey could deepen its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security bloc led by China and Russia, according to the Jerusalem Post.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after attending an SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, that Turkey could take its relations with the organization to a higher level. He added that the prospect of full membership would not mean breaking with other blocs or turning away from the West.

Turkey currently has dialogue partner status in the SCO. Erdogan also met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit, where the two discussed the situation in the Black Sea.

According to Erdogan, a grain crisis has resurfaced, particularly in Africa, requiring action before the problem escalates further. He called for a permanent mechanism to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea and stressed the importance of protecting civilian maritime traffic.

Turkey has prepared a plan for the safe passage of grain through the Black Sea and is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine about it. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, however, sees no grounds for resuming the Black Sea grain agreement.

(mja)