Turkiye stopped all trade with Israel as of Thursday, according to two Turkish officials familiar with the matter, adding to already high-running tensions between the once-close allies over the war in Gaza.
The move expands last month’s restriction on some Turkish exports to Israel, as Prez Recep Tayyip Erdogan steps up criticism of the Jewish state. Ankara hasn’t formally announced the suspension and it wasn’t clear under what conditions trade would resume.Trade between the countries was worth $6.8 billion in 2023, according to Turkish statistical institute. “This is the behaviour of a dictator who tramples the interests of the Turkish people and business community, while ignoring international trade agreements.” Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.
Turkiye’s move comes a day after Colombia Prez Gustavo Petro announced that his country is severing all diplomatic ties with Israel, describing the Israeli govt as “genocidal”. Colombia is the second South American nation to break off relations with Israel after Bolivia, which cut ties in Nov over Gaza war. The Israeli govt denounced Petro’s move.