President Joseph Aoun was received by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on July 30, 2026. (Credit: Turkish presidency)
Turkey is preparing an initiative for the Middle East, coordinating with several countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The goal is to contain Iranian influence while countering the Israeli project aimed at fragmenting the region. Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank are the central elements of this initiative, especially since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers them to fall under "Turkish national security." This initiative relies in particular on the need for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, southern Syria and southern Lebanon, while Ankara would lead a process of dismantling armed factions to place them under state authority. This would be accompanied by a framework for coordination among countries in the region regarding negotiations with Israel. Beyond the...
Turkey is preparing an initiative for the Middle East, coordinating with several countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The goal is to contain Iranian influence while countering the Israeli project aimed at fragmenting the region. Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank are the central elements of this initiative, especially since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers them to fall under "Turkish national security." This initiative relies in particular on the need for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, southern Syria and southern Lebanon, while Ankara would lead a process of dismantling armed factions to place them under state authority. This would be accompanied by a framework for coordination among countries in the region regarding negotiations with Israel. Beyond the...
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