Inside Two Decades of Power: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Reflects on Turkiye's Global Rise

At a time of global upheaval, one man has successfully redrawn Turkiye’s political map. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reflects on more than two decades in power.

His political journey began in the early 1990s when he was elected mayor of Istanbul. He later founded the Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, in 2001, going on to win every election since then. Following three terms as prime minister, he was elected president in 2014 and remains in office to date.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the AK Party, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks with Al Jazeera Arabic’s Ali Al Dafiri regarding Turkiye’s expanding role in a shifting geopolitical landscape. During the conversation, he highlights a recent defence deal concluded with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Addressing international conflicts, he discusses the US-Israel war on Iran, advocating for open maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz while pointing to Israel as the primary driver of regional tension. He also reaffirms Turkiye’s solid support for Syria’s new administration and expresses unwavering solidarity with Lebanon and Gaza.

On the domestic front, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reflects on Turkiye’s sweeping economic transformation and its future outlook, noting that European Union accession is no longer a priority.