Erdogan, Fidan Mark 100 Years of Turkey-US Ties in New York

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed separate events in New York marking the centennial of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the United States. Both leaders emphasized that the strategic partnership has withstood crises and regional upheavals over the past century.

Erdogan stated that strategic ties cannot be separated from economic and trade relations. He revealed a target to raise bilateral trade volume to $100 billion, noting it doubled to $38 billion in 2025. He also pledged to advance cooperation in nuclear energy, LNG, civil aviation and high technology.

“We are ready to advance our cooperation in energy including nuclear and LNG, civil aviation and high technology. Developing our defense industry cooperation is a necessity both bilaterally and within NATO.”

Fidan highlighted the "exceptional relationship" between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump as a central driver of recent progress. He asserted that both nations possess the experience, capacity and political will to respond jointly to global crises ranging from terrorism to food security.

Erdogan credited the dialogue with Trump for positive outcomes across a wide geography from the Middle East to Africa and Asia. He described Trump's visit to Ankara in July as a confirmation of the deep-rooted alliance.

Presidential adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic described the 2010s as a period of "strategic transformation" for bilateral ties. He stressed Turkey's role as a strong regional actor that takes security-based initiatives in Syria, Iraq and Azerbaijan.

Kilic also noted Turkey pursues a distinct strategy with Russia while seeking peaceful solutions between Iran and Israel. He characterized the Turkish state as an "unshakable core" providing stability in a changing region.