Turkey Roundup: Syria protests, German ambassador summoned, port deal controversies

Controversial Somalia-Ethiopia port deal

Turkey has initiated a mediation role in the discussions between Somalia and Ethiopia regarding a contentious port agreement that Addis Ababa entered into with Somaliland earlier this year. This information comes from four officials who are privy to the situation. These talks represent the most recent effort to repair the strained diplomatic relations between the two East African nations. Tensions escalated in January after Ethiopia decided to lease a 20 km (approximately 12 miles) stretch of coastal land from Somaliland, offering in return the acknowledgement of its sovereignty. According to Cyprus Shipping News, the Somali government denounced the deal as unlawful and responded by dismissing the Ethiopian ambassador and issuing a warning of potential expulsion for the numerous Ethiopian soldiers present in Somalia, who are there to assist in the fight against Islamist militants.

Turkey summons German ambassador

On Wednesday, July 3, Turkey called in the German ambassador to address a dispute that arose after Turkish defender Merih Demiral was accused of displaying an ultra-nationalist symbol while celebrating his goal during the Euro 2024 match against Austria. The celebration by Demiral, following his second goal in the 2-1 win, is linked to the Turkish ultra-nationalist organization, the Grey Wolves. France24 reports that the incident led UEFA to initiate an investigation into "inappropriate behaviour" and drew criticism from German officials. However, Ankara swiftly labelled the response from Berlin as "xenophobia." Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned "the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums. Using the European football championships as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable," she added on X, formerly Twitter.

Turkish contractors move to Saudi markets

Turkish contractors are looking to secure deals in the Saudi market. They recently held meetings with Saudi government officials and private company representatives to discuss potential projects in areas such as highway construction, waste management, and recycling. Economic relations between the two countries are developing, and trade has been increasing in various industries. In 2022, Turkish contractors undertook 16 projects worth $3 billion in Saudi Arabia, accounting for 10.4% of all projects carried out abroad by Turkish companies, Hurriyet Daily News highlights. Since 1972, Turkish companies have undertaken a total of $28.2 billion worth of projects in Saudi Arabia.

Russia dismisses Turkey's offer on Ukraine

On Wednesday, July 3, during a conversation with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed that Ankara is in a position to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This discussion took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Kazakhstan. The Turkish presidency relayed Erdogan's optimism about achieving a just peace agreeable to both parties involved. However, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, dismissed the possibility of Erdogan serving as a mediator in the conflict, which has persisted for 28 months, Reuters reports. "No, it's not possible," said Peskov, when asked by a Russian television interviewer whether Erdogan could assume such a role.

North Syrian refugee protests

In Northern Syria, four individuals lost their lives following a violent confrontation between armed demonstrators and the Turkish forces overseeing the region, as reported by a war monitoring group. These protests were a reaction to the previous day's unrest in Turkey directed against Syrian refugees. The unrest in Syria was a spillover from the disturbances in central Turkey across Sunday, June 30 and Monday, July 1. The initial protests ignited in the central Anatolian region of Kayseri on Sunday evening, sparked by accusations that a Syrian individual had committed an offence against a minor. Al-Monitor adds that the uproar led to hundreds of people flooding the streets in at least three localities within the province, where some participants targeted Syrian-owned businesses and vehicles. According to Selma Kan, a journalist based in Kayseri, the riots significantly damaged numerous properties and vehicles. The police intervened with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators who were vocally opposing the presence of Syrians in Turkey.