Turkey Officially Protests US Violation of the War Ending Memorandum

Ankara's Sharp Reaction to Washington's Military Actions The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern today in an official statement regarding recent actions by the United States. According to reports published by news agencies such as IRNA, Ankara believes that recent US military strikes have clearly violated the provisions of the "War Ending Memorandum," which was established to bring calm to the region [1]. The statement emphasizes that such actions could jeopardize months of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending widespread conflicts in the Middle East.

Details of the Memorandum and Regional Mediation The memorandum in question, reached in mid-June 2026 through the mediation of countries such as Pakistan and Qatar, was considered a vital step toward ending a war that began in February 2026 [2]. Turkey had previously welcomed this agreement, viewing it as an opportunity to return stability to international trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. However, Friday's US military strikes on radar sites and drone warehouses are seen by Ankara and Tehran as a direct departure from the frameworks agreed upon in this peace document [1][3].

Escalation of Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz The United States claims these strikes were carried out in response to the targeting of a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned in its statement that unilateral military responses, without considering the monitoring mechanisms provided for in the memorandum, only fuel the cycle of violence. Turkish officials have called on both sides to return to the negotiating table in Switzerland and to refrain from any actions that lead to further provocation [1].

Diplomatic Consequences for the Region Turkey's explicit stance reflects a deep rift among NATO allies regarding the management of the Middle East crisis in 2026. While Washington emphasizes its right to self-defense, Ankara insists on maintaining the integrity of a memorandum achieved with great difficulty. Reflecting this statement, the IRNA news agency noted that the international community is now watching the coming days with both fear and hope to see whether the June peace agreement can survive this difficult test [1][2].