Erdoğan: With the death of the leader, internal disputes and disintegration within FETÖ have accelerated.

23.09.2025 07:50

In his speech at the dinner organized by the Turkish-American National Coordination Committee, President Erdoğan stated, "With the death of the leader in Pennsylvania, internal disputes and disintegration within FETÖ have accelerated. Over time, the organization will continue to lose power. We have no tolerance for terrorism, neither within our borders nor in our region."

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President Erdoğan attended a dinner organized by the Turkish-American National Coordination Committee (TASC) on the second day of his meetings in New York. In his speech at the dinner, Erdoğan addressed the Turkish-American community.

President Erdoğan began his speech by addressing the Turkish community, saying, "I thank you for your presence at this esteemed program where our friends from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds gather around the same table. As every year, I express my gratitude to the Turkish-American National Coordination Committee for bringing us together once again. I want to particularly emphasize my pleasure in seeing the spirit of solidarity and unity among the Turkish community in America. I see your presence here today, having traveled miles from all over America, as the strongest manifestation of our heartfelt unity," he said.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE TURKISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY"

Congratulating all civil society organizations that support the spirit of unity, Erdoğan stated, "We observe that the Turkish community living in America is becoming increasingly visible in the social, political, economic, and academic life of this country. I want you to know that we take pride in your achievements, especially our friends in this hall. I congratulate each of you for your efforts, determination, and struggle. As your brother who comes to America for various reasons, I know this fact very clearly: You play very important roles with the bonds you have established between Turkey and America and the contributions you make to the economic and social life of your second homeland, America. You also serve as a bridge in conveying our country, culture, and civilizational values to the American people. You know that we are always by your side in the work you carry out here, and we strive to support you through our representations and other institutions. We hope to continue to support the Turkish-American community in every field from now on," he expressed.

Noting that foreign policy has also been affected by the profound changes occurring in the world, President Erdoğan continued his speech as follows: "Foreign policy actors are no longer just states and representatives; diaspora groups are equally influential. As leading figures of the Turkish diaspora, you all have significant responsibilities in this regard. It is very important for the Turkish-American community, which is approaching a population of half a million, to take a more active role in the political arena at both local and federal levels, thus increasing the level of representation. The current environment, where polarization is experienced in many areas from diplomacy to security, from the economy to technology, has made Turkey-America solidarity more critical and indispensable than ever. We continue our efforts to advance Turkish-American relations on the basis of alliance and strategic partnership. The cooperation between our countries is diversifying and deepening in many areas such as security, trade, investments, energy, and education. During President Trump's second term, our contacts with every level of the administration have intensified, and constructive dialogue between our institutions has gained momentum. Thanks to the sincere friendship we have developed with Mr. Trump over the years, a mutual will has emerged to resolve some of the issues on our agenda. We are in constant consultation with him and his team regarding developments in our geography, especially the Gaza crisis, the Russia-Ukraine War, and Syria. Ambassador Mr. Barrack has made and continues to make significant contributions to this positive atmosphere with his sincere efforts.

"WE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP ON THURSDAY"

Stating that the goal is to raise the bilateral trade volume to 100 billion dollars and to increase mutual investments, Erdoğan said, "On Thursday, we will meet with him in Washington DC. During our visit, we will have the opportunity to address many critical issues. As you know, especially recently, Islamophobia and cultural racism have reached alarming levels worldwide. Marginal ideas residing at the extremes of the political spectrum can reach wider audiences with the influence of social media. We are aware that these dangerous trends have frightened our brothers living here and integrating with America. It is very important for us that you can continue to live your culture, faith, and civilizational values without any concerns. America has been a country that has been cited as an example in terms of freedom of belief for years. We hope that there will be no regression in this characteristic of America. It is our duty to ensure that those who feed on hate speech remain in the minority and cannot infiltrate politics. I particularly trust the Muslim community in America, especially you. I believe that the strength of the Islamic community in America will be a source of confidence and courage for all Muslims in the world. I see that American Muslims, including Turks, are sharing the messages of brotherhood, justice, peace, and solidarity of Islam more effectively with the American public. I especially expect you to continue your efforts by increasing them," he stated.

"WE WILL CONTINUE OUR FIGHT AGAINST FETÖ WITH DETERMINATION"

Stating that the fight against terrorism, which has targeted the peace and brotherhood of Turkey for 10 years and has cost us billions of dollars, is among the most important issues, Erdoğan continued his speech as follows: "With the death of the leader in Pennsylvania, internal discussions and dissolutions within FETÖ have accelerated. The scandals that have emerged have once again revealed the true face of this treacherous organization. Over time, the organization will continue to lose power. We will continue our fight against FETÖ on the grounds of law and democracy with the same determination and sensitivity. We have no tolerance for terrorism, neither within our borders nor in our region. This goal of ours is gradually becoming a reality. Of course, there are groups and lobbies in America that conduct campaigns against Turkey. These structures are not only disturbed by the strengthening of Turkish-American relations but also do not want you to succeed here. We all know who these centers are, whose only basis is anti-Turkey sentiment, and who they are subcontracting for. As Turkey continues to raise its voice for justice and peace in its region, and as it stands by the oppressed, of course, campaigns aimed at silencing and intimidating our country and ourselves will also increase. We will not give in to these," he said.

President Erdoğan stated, "We will never submit to pressures. Whoever expects Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey to tolerate oppression and remain silent in the face of massacres should not wait in vain. No power, lobby, or disinformation activity can prevent us from courageously expressing the truth. I always say this. I express it once again today. We only bow in ruku. We kneel in sujood. We will never bow down in any other way. In the face of smear campaigns, it is more than a necessity for the Turkish-American community to act in solidarity.

Instead of discussing our differences, we need to unite around our common values and concerns. We will be one, we will be united, and we will act shoulder to shoulder. We will not forget for a moment that a heart that beats collectively cannot be subdued by the ball. In every step you take in this direction, rest assured that we will continue to be by your side, just as we have been until now.