Earlier in July, Erdogan said he discussed the idea of the creation of a new "grain corridor" through Turkey for African countries in need at talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan's Astana. He also expressed hope that the Black Sea grain corridor would become operational again.
"We will be in pursuance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We think the Dolmabahce process [in Istanbul, where negotiations were held and the agreement on the Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed] will be developing here. It is our hope," Erdogan told the news conference on Thursday, aired by Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber.
The Turkey- and United Nations-mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in July 2022, provided a humanitarian corridor to allow safe sea exports of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. It expired on July 18, 2023, after Russia refused to extend its participation, citing persistent violations of the package deal's component to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
Aside from that, Erdogan stated that Ankara aims to become a permanent member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
"Our goal is to become a permanent member there, not an observer state. Turkey should join the Shanghai Five as a permanent member. I discussed this issue with Mr. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, my Kazakh counterpart [Kassym-Jomart Tokayev] at the last summit and asked for support in this process," Erdogan said on Thursday.