Upon returning home from his contacts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated in a series of high-level meetings in the United States, where he was attending the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly. During his stay, he took part in numerous sessions, including the General Assembly itself, and held significant meetings with world leaders as well as senior representatives of international organizations.
President Erdoğan attended the Turkish Investment Conference in a Sectoral Roundtable Format, organized by the Turkey-U.S. Business Council on September 22 in New York, where he had traveled to participate in the 80th UN General Assembly.
Speaking at the conference, President Erdoğan emphasized that energy and defense industries remain priority areas of cooperation between Turkey and the United States, stating: “Our joint target with my esteemed friend President Trump continues to be the $100 billion trade volume we set in 2019.”
President Erdoğan also participated in the High-Level International Conference on Palestine held at the UN.
Addressing the meeting, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, he said: “I congratulate the countries that have decided to recognize the State of Palestine. I hope this step, along with subsequent initiatives, will accelerate the realization of a two-state solution. As Turkey, we will resolutely continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and enjoying full territorial integrity.”
In the context of bilateral meetings, President Erdoğan first met with European Council President Antonio Costa.
He later met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In their discussions, which covered bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues, President Erdoğan highlighted the significant role Turkey and Canada play as NATO allies in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security.
Stressing the great potential for cooperation particularly in energy and defense industries, he underlined the importance of seizing such opportunities to deepen ties. He further emphasized that enhancing contacts between the two countries in the coming period would contribute to strengthening cooperation.
Expressing his satisfaction with Canada’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state, President Erdoğan congratulated Prime Minister Carney.
President Erdoğan also met with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sabah Khalid al-Hamed al-Sabah. Their talks focused on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues. President Erdoğan underscored the importance of further developing ties, especially in trade, and reaffirmed Turkey’s determination to work towards strengthening cooperation with Kuwait.
Highlighting the importance of a unified stance by Islamic countries against Israel’s massacres in Palestinian territories, he stressed the need for continued negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Syria, President Erdoğan reiterated the importance of focusing on reconstruction and development based on the preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity, adding that Turkey’s support for Syria would continue.
President Erdoğan also attended a dinner hosted by the Turkish-American National Steering Committee, where he met with Turkish citizens living in the U.S.
In his remarks there, he said: “We continue our efforts to advance Turkish-American relations on the basis of alliance and strategic partnership. During President Trump’s second term, our contacts with all levels of the U.S. administration have intensified, and constructive dialogue between our institutions has gained momentum.”
President Erdoğan Addressed World Leaders from the UN Podium
On the second day of his program in New York, President Erdoğan delivered an address at the UN General Assembly.
Dedicating much of his speech to Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, he also touched upon Syria, the Russia-Ukraine war, recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and other unresolved global issues.
In his UN address, he stated:
“What is happening in Gaza is not a war. There are not two equal sides in Gaza. On one side there is a regular army armed with the most modern and lethal weapons; on the other, innocent civilians and children. Israel’s actions are not confined to Gaza and the West Bank—it is also conducting attacks against Syria, Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, threatening regional peace.”
Using photographs from Gaza to illustrate the atrocities, President Erdoğan called on world leaders:
“The time is now. Today is the day to stand firmly by the oppressed Palestinians on behalf of humanity. While your peoples are expressing outrage at the barbarity in Gaza, I call on you to show courage step by step. Fulfill your human duty towards Gaza, where children are raising children.”
Following his UN speech, President Erdoğan met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Their talks covered regional and global issues, especially Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Stressing the clear need for reform within the UN system, President Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to contribute to such efforts, underlining that recent global challenges have further underscored the importance of safeguarding world peace.
He also met with President Mohamed al-Menfi of the Libyan Presidential Council. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s determination to support Libya in achieving lasting stability, security, and national unity.
Meeting on Gaza with Trump
President Erdoğan attended a closed-door meeting on Gaza, held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump as well as heads of state and government from Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Egypt.
He also joined a meeting organized with U.S. think tanks in coordination with SETA and, on the final day of his New York program, met with Turkey-U.S. Business Council Chairman Hamdi Ulukaya and senior U.S. business executives.
Meeting with Syrian President Shara
For the first time in many years, Syrian President Ahmed Shara spoke at the UN General Assembly. On this occasion, President Erdoğan met him at the Turkish House.
He emphasized the expectation that all sanctions on Syria be lifted as soon as possible, reiterating Turkey’s support for all initiatives aimed at safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
President Erdoğan stressed that the terrorist organization SDG must comply with the March 10 Agreement, underlining Turkey’s close monitoring of developments in the region and reaffirming its commitment to increasing support for Syria.
Meeting with President Macron
At the UN Headquarters, President Erdoğan also met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Discussions covered bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues. President Erdoğan emphasized the importance of dialogue with France and Turkey’s determination to enhance cooperation in areas including trade, energy, and defense.
He also reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to revitalizing and advancing its relations with the European Union, stressing the need to promptly activate relevant mechanisms.
Erdoğan further reiterated Turkey’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, recalling the Istanbul negotiations as an example of results-oriented diplomacy.
Congratulating President Macron on France’s decision to recognize Palestine, President Erdoğan emphasized that intensifying international pressure on the Netanyahu government could yield results, highlighting the importance of continued coordination between Turkey and France in this regard.
UN Climate Summit
President Erdoğan also participated in the UN Climate Summit, where he announced Turkey’s target of reducing emissions by 466 million tons by 2035, bringing them down to 643 million tons. He noted that, as of this year, renewable energy accounts for more than 60% of Turkey’s total installed capacity.
In his bilateral contacts, he met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, with whom he exchanged views on Gaza and the Palestinian issue. President Erdoğan stressed Turkey’s determination to work for a just and lasting peace in Gaza, expressing satisfaction at Vietnam’s stance on the right side of history regarding Palestine.
With this meeting, President Erdoğan concluded his program in New York and proceeded to Washington, D.C., to meet President Trump.
President Erdoğan–Trump Meeting
At the White House, President Erdoğan held a two-hour-and-twenty-minute meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. He also signed the White House guestbook.
Before their tête-à-tête meeting, President Erdoğan said:
“I believe we will have the opportunity to comprehensively discuss our relations concerning the F-35 and F-16 programs, as well as the Halkbank issue. On the matter of the Halki Seminary, we are ready to do whatever falls upon us. I will also discuss this with Patriarch Bartholomew upon my return. During both President Trump’s first and second terms, Turkish-American relations have entered a new phase. I am confident that, hand in hand, we will overcome the challenges in our region.”
During the meeting, in the presence of both leaders, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, deepening the partnership between Turkey and the United States in the field of nuclear energy.