Turkish President Erdogan's Family Continues Business Ties with Israel Amid Official Trade Embargo
Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's harsh criticism of Israel and his official trade embargo imposed in May 2024, new shipping data reveals that oil imports from Azerbaijan through Turkish ports have reached a three-year peak in 2025. These imports are transported via pipelines through Turkey and then shipped by tankers to Haifa, Israel, indicating ongoing commercial activity beneath the radar.
Reports from Rai Al-Youm and Reuters highlight a disconnect between Erdogan's public stance and the actual trade flows. The investigation also uncovers direct business involvement of Erdogan's sons in these dealings. His eldest son, Burak Erdogan, is a partner in the shipping company MB Denizcilik, which maintains continuous business relations with Israel. Another son, Bilal Erdogan, was also involved in a shipping company, though there is no conclusive evidence linking him directly to goods exported to Israel, raising suspicions nonetheless.
The findings suggest that while the official embargo remains in place, Erdogan's family benefits from ongoing trade with Israel, revealing a complex and contradictory dynamic between political rhetoric and economic interests.
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