Amid global conflicts and crises, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emphasized the importance of revitalizing relations between Türkiye and the United States. During the “100 Years of Friendship Gala” in New York, Erdoğan highlighted the need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation between the two NATO allies, particularly in areas such as defense, energy, and technology.
Erdoğan pointed out that the partnership between Türkiye and the United States has already yielded positive outcomes in international affairs, especially in the Middle East. He expressed Türkiye’s commitment to deepening coordination with Washington, suggesting an expansion of joint efforts in nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas, civil aviation, and high technology sectors. Additionally, Erdoğan called for the removal of barriers to further facilitate joint defense production.
One area where Türkiye has shown significant progress is its defense industry. Erdoğan noted that the country’s defense exports have surged from approximately $248 million two decades ago to over $10 billion, positioning Türkiye as an emerging leader in global defense exports. He expressed confidence that Türkiye is on track to become one of the world’s top ten defense exporters.
Beyond defense, Erdoğan also invited US investors to explore opportunities within Türkiye. He highlighted Ankara’s new investment drive, which is based on a competitive incentive framework aimed at attracting foreign investment. This call was echoed by US Senator Chris Coons, who underscored the importance of business ties and entrepreneurship in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
The event, which marked a century of diplomatic and economic ties between Türkiye and the United States, gathered senior officials and business leaders from both countries. It underscored the longstanding partnership and mutual interests that have defined the relationship over the years, with an eye towards future collaboration in various sectors.