Erdogan Under Fire for Silence on Maduro Abduction

Turkey’s opposition has stepped up pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take a stronger stance following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, criticizing Ankara’s restrained response to the operation.

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), accused Erdogan of being overly cautious in dealing with the United States. Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Ozel highlighted the personal ties between Erdogan and Maduro, who has visited Turkey multiple times and received public backing from the Turkish leader in 2019.

“Your friend Trump violates international law, enters Maduro’s home, and abducts him along with his wife. How tragic that you now remain silent,” Ozel said, posting side-by-side images of Erdogan with Maduro and of Maduro blindfolded under US custody on social media.

The relationship between Turkey and Venezuela has been shaped by mutual visits and trade agreements, including nearly $1 billion in mining and gold trade by 2023. Erdogan had also hosted Maduro during his inauguration in Ankara in June 2023 and continued communication following the disputed 2024 Venezuelan elections. Reports suggested that the US offered Maduro exile in Turkey, a claim later confirmed by US officials.

In contrast, the Turkish government’s official response has been measured. The foreign ministry called for restraint to prevent further regional instability, without explicitly condemning the US operation. Erdogan made a televised appearance over the weekend but did not directly address the incident.

The situation has sparked divisions within Turkey’s political establishment. Burhanettin Duran, presidential communications director, said Ozel’s comments were “irresponsible” and emphasized that Turkish foreign policy is guided by state interests and respect for international law.

Erdogan’s coalition partner, Nationalist Movement Party chairman Devlet Bahceli, compared Maduro’s capture to the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, suggesting a parallel in the methods used against both leaders.

Meanwhile, some presidential advisers expressed stronger rhetoric. Cemil Ertem initially called the US “genocidal” on social media before deleting his post, while Mehmet Ucum described the abduction as a clear act of “imperialist aggression” and a violation of international law.

The debate underscores Turkey’s delicate position between maintaining its long-standing diplomatic ties with Maduro and navigating relations with the United States, highlighting tensions within the government over foreign policy priorities.