Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday criticized the West for its “provocation-based policy” towards Russia.
“I say to those who underestimate Russia: you are doing it wrong. Russia is not a country to be underestimated,” Erdoğan said at a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, per translation to Anadolu Agency news channel.
“I can clearly say that I do not like the attitude of the West” [toward Russia] Turn right. Because there is a West that follows a policy based on provocation,” he added.
The Turkish president noted that he sees no end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has now dragged on for more than half a year.
Erdoğan insisted on Wednesday that the country is pursuing a “balanced foreign policy between Russia and Ukraine.” according to video and translations from TRT World.
Earlier this year, Turkey opposed NATO membership applications from Finland and Sweden, a unity movement for the alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey also worked with Putin to facilitate exports through the blocked Black Sea.
The government of Greece recently asked NATO, the European Union and the United Nations to formally condemn Turkey’s aggressive rhetoric as tensions between neighboring countries mount.
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