From New York, Erdogan urges Trump to overcome obstacles in defense

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara and Washington should deepen cooperation in the areas of the economy, energy and defense.

Speaking at an event in New York held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Erdogan discussed his relations with US President Donald Trump, whom he described as a “valuable friend.”

According to the Turkish president, direct and positive dialogue with Trump has helped achieve significant progress and continues to produce results in all areas of bilateral relations.

Erdogan said trade between Turkey and the United States exceeded $38 billion in 2025, while it reached $28 billion in the first eight months of this year. He considered the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion both feasible and attainable.

The Turkish president called for cooperation with the United States to be expanded to include nuclear energy, LNG, civil aviation and advanced technologies.

Erdogan devoted particular attention in his speech to the defense industry and coordination between the two countries as NATO allies. He said that obstacles that should never divide two allies must be overcome in order to give Ankara-Washington relations new momentum.

He also emphasized that Turkey’s defense industry has undergone major development, while exports from the sector have now surpassed $10 billion annually.

According to Erdogan, addressing conflicts and crises in different parts of the world requires close dialogue between Turkey and the United States. In this context, he underscored Turkey’s strategic importance in the Middle East, the Caucasus and North Africa.

In conclusion, the Turkish president expressed his commitment to further strengthening relations between Ankara and Washington in the coming years.