OMM Redaksiyası
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan concluded his four-day visit to the United States on Wednesday after holding talks with world leaders and addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan arrived in New York on Sunday with First Lady Emine Erdogan. They were welcomed at John F. Kennedy International Airport by Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, Türkiye’s Ambassador to the US Sedat Onal and Türkiye’s Consul General in New York Muhittin Ahmet Yazal.
Meetings with foreign leaders
During the visit, Erdogan held talks with the leaders of Vietnam, Libya, Kuwait, Kosovo, Lebanon, Georgia, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Japan, Poland, Bangladesh, Senegal, Ukraine, Iraq and Armenia.
In meetings at the Turkish House, Erdogan discussed bilateral relations and regional and global developments. He said Türkiye would continue efforts to preserve stability in Libya and support dialogue among Balkan countries, while stressing the importance of closer cooperation with Georgia through Türkiye-Georgia-Azerbaijan mechanisms.
During talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Erdogan said Türkiye was ready to do its utmost to help bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through lasting peace. He also called for measures to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, describing attacks on commercial vessels as unjustifiable.
At a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, the two sides agreed to deepen security cooperation and fully restore state authority in Sinjar. A joint statement said Turkish forces would gradually hand over the Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Iraq’s federal government under an agreed mechanism and timetable.
Erdogan also told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Türkiye supports normalization in bilateral trade and transportation and welcomed the positive momentum in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Messages on the US partnership and Palestine
Speaking at an event marking “100 Years of Friendship: Türkiye–United States of America”, Erdogan said Ankara and Washington needed close dialogue in response to conflicts and crises around the world.
He said bilateral trade had exceeded $38 billion in 2025 and reached $28 billion in the first eight months of the current year. Erdogan added that trade could surpass the previous figure and reach $40 billion by the end of the year, describing the joint $100 billion target agreed with US President Donald Trump as realistic.
Türkiye is ready to expand cooperation with the United States in energy, including nuclear power and liquefied natural gas, as well as civil aviation, advanced technology and defense, Erdogan said.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Erdogan called on countries that have not recognized the State of Palestine to reconsider their positions. He said Türkiye would continue to speak for Palestine and called for greater international pressure for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Erdogan also renewed his call for reform of the UN Security Council under the principle that “the world is bigger than five”.
Climate summit and regional diplomacy
Türkiye will host the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, in Antalya from Nov. 9-20, 2026, Erdogan said at a high-level climate meeting convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said the summit should focus on turning climate decisions into action while taking account of countries’ social and economic circumstances, development priorities and differing access to financing and technology.
Erdogan also met with US President Donald Trump and leaders or foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, to discuss the Gaza conflict and reconstruction efforts.
Speaking to Turkish-American business representatives, Erdogan said strategic cooperation between Türkiye and the United States was developing in all areas as the two countries approached the centenary of their diplomatic relations. He said Türkiye aimed to expand energy cooperation with Washington, including in the nuclear sector.
In an address to Turks and allied communities in New York, Erdogan called for Muslims to be integrated into the societies where they live without being forced to abandon their language, culture or roots. He also urged Turkish Americans to take part in political, business, academic and cultural life and to vote in upcoming US midterm elections.
