Trkiyes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Israels war-addicted government must not be allowed to drag the region into further bloodshed.Speaking at a joint news conference in Istanbul with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after bilateral and delegation-level talks, Erdogan said: It is necessary not to allow the current war-addicted Israeli government to once again drown our geography in the smell of gunpowder and blood.On bilateral ties, Erdogan said Ankara aims to deepen cooperation with Islamabad in energy, transportation, critical minerals and information technologies News Analysis & Summary Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at a joint press conference in Istanbul with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, issued a sharp condemnation of Israel's current leadership, labeling it a 'war-addicted' government that must not be allowed to plunge the Middle East into further violence. Erdogan stressed the urgency of preventing the region from being consumed again by 'the smell of gunpowder and blood.' The remarks came after bilateral talks where both leaders discussed deepening cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan in energy, transportation, critical minerals, and information technology. In my opinion, Erdogan's rhetoric reflects a growing frustration among regional powers with Israel's military posture and the lack of a credible peace process. While his warning is timely given escalating tensions, it risks being perceived as strong words without actionable diplomatic leverage. Nonetheless, the emphasis on strengthening ties with Pakistan signals Turkey's strategic effort to build resilient partnerships beyond the immediate conflict zonea pragmatic move that could yield long-term economic and geopolitical dividends. Source: @trtworld on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 3,296 Likes: 3 Shares: 2 Published: July 4, 2026, 3:49 pm