AK Party Deputy Chairman Ala: “Let’s rid both Türkiye and its region of the scourge of terrorism”
During a meeting with Turkish civil society representatives in London, AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala emphasized that the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative aims to eliminate terrorism both within the country and across its broader region. “Let’s free Türkiye and its neighborhood from the scourge of terrorism,” he said. “Türkiye should keep its eyes on the future and move toward its goals with confident and rapid steps.”
Ala was joined at the Yunus Emre Institute by AK Party Deputy Chairman Zafer Sırakaya, Deputy Chairman for Political and Legal Affairs Ömer Serdar, and Türkiye’s Consul General in London, Ambassador Hasan Ulusoy.
“Türkiye is now a country that shapes global conversations”
Highlighting the contributions of Turkish citizens abroad, Ala noted that the global Turkish diaspora forms a significant part of the nation’s strength. He added that Türkiye’s growing diplomatic and geopolitical presence has elevated its influence on the world stage.
Recalling a well-known remark by former Foreign Minister İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil—suggesting that in the Middle East one might find themselves “on the menu” if not on the guest list—Ala remarked that Türkiye today plays an active, decisive role “both at the table and on the ground.”
He also drew attention to Türkiye’s expanding diplomatic reach, particularly in Africa, where Ankara now maintains embassies in nearly all countries on the continent. According to Ala, this broader engagement distinguishes Türkiye from former colonial powers: “We don’t go there to exploit resources. We go to build relationships, to produce together, and to share more fairly.”
Diplomacy and the Grain Corridor
Ala praised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s international leadership, pointing to the reopening of the Black Sea Grain Corridor during the Russia–Ukraine war. “When a conflict that affects 25% of the world’s grain supply erupted, the world turned to Türkiye,” he said. “It was our President’s diplomatic strength that made reopening the grain corridor possible.”
He also highlighted Türkiye’s vocal stance on humanitarian crises, particularly in Gaza and Syria, and emphasized that Erdoğan’s statements—such as “The world is bigger than five” and “A fairer world is possible”—have resonated globally.
A stable nation amid regional turmoil
Discussing global power shifts, Ala noted rising commercial tensions between China and the United States, Europe’s internal reassessment following Brexit, and regional instability from Iraq to the Balkans. Despite these challenges, he said, Türkiye remains “an island of stability.”
“While the region is shaken by conflicts and diplomatic earthquakes,” he said, “we continue on our path. Others couldn’t achieve with oil wealth what we achieved with democracy. We are the only Muslim-majority country that has advanced without violence, chaos, or disorder.”
“Terror-Free Türkiye” and political unity
Ala reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism inside and outside the country. “This is the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye—freeing our nation and its region from terrorism so we can look ahead and progress rapidly,” he said. He added that the state apparatus, from the intelligence services to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is working in coordination, and that opposition parties have also supported the process.
“We will succeed,” Ala stated. “And once we do, Türkiye will move even faster toward the goals of the Century of Türkiye.”
AK Party Deputy Chairman Zafer Sırakaya also addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of proactive public engagement: “Our priority is not waiting for citizens to reach us, but going to them and listening.”
The meeting continued behind closed doors, where civil society representatives shared concerns and posed questions to the visiting delegation.
