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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Türkiye and the United States support the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported.
Speaking at the “100 Years of Friendship: Türkiye-United States” event in New York, Fidan said Turkish-U.S. relations have currently gained new and strong momentum. The relationship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump plays a key role in that process, he emphasized.
Fidan said that Türkiye and the United States cooperate on regional security issues ranging from the Middle East to the South Caucasus and the Balkans.
According to him, the sides support the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and coordinate their actions on issues concerning the South Caucasus.
“As we enter the second century of diplomatic relations between our countries, we are determined to fully realize the potential of our cooperation and resolve the issues hindering it,” the Turkish Foreign Minister said.
According to data presented by Fidan, trade between Türkiye and the United States has reached around $40 billion. The goal set by Erdoğan is to increase that figure to $100 billion.
According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, this requires removing restrictions hindering the expansion of trade, including additional tariffs.
Addressing defense cooperation, Fidan said that it is necessary to resolve existing problems and remove obstacles limiting cooperation between the two allies. He also noted that the United States has become one of Türkiye’s leading suppliers of energy resources.
The Turkish Foreign Minister noted that Ankara and Washington seek to reduce the risks of an escalation of tensions in the Black Sea and support dialogue aimed at achieving sustainable peace in Ukraine.
According to him, Türkiye continues to keep communication channels open with both Kyiv and Moscow.
Fidan said that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Türkiye has advocated for ending it as quickly as possible and supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
At the same time, according to him, Ankara, despite its NATO membership, follows its own approach on issues related to the war and a peaceful settlement.
Referring to the situation in the Middle East, Fidan said that Türkiye expects the United States to use its influence over Israel more actively.
“We expect the United States to use its influence over Israel to a greater extent so that it stops policies that undermine regional and global peace and stability,” Fidan said.
He listed the military conflict around Iran, the situation in Yemen and Israel’s actions among the threats complicating diplomatic efforts in the region.
According to Fidan, the situation in Gaza remains one of the main challenges to ensuring regional security and stability. He said that Türkiye supports U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Gaza crisis and calls for the full implementation of the commitments envisaged by the peace plan.
In the context of the need for greater responsibility by regional countries regarding security, the Turkish Foreign Minister referred to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
According to him, the three countries have a roadmap for developing this format, and after its institutionalization, the possibility of other countries joining the regional structure could also open up. Fidan stressed that the basis of Ankara’s regional policy is “not domination and subordination, but cooperation.”
Referring to the F-35 fighter jet program, Fidan said that following Erdoğan’s visit to the White House in 2025, the sides agreed to work toward removing obstacles to defense cooperation related to CAATSA.
According to him, the political will to resolve the issue remains, but the process is taking longer than expected.
Fidan also said that Ankara is in contact with the special envoy of the U.S. president, Steve Witkoff, and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.
According to him, Türkiye and the United States coordinate their actions on issues related to the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza peace plan, Libya, the Horn of Africa and the South Caucasus.
“Our goal in the second century of our diplomatic relations with the United States is to use the Turkish-American partnership for the common interests of global peace and stability,” the Turkish Foreign Minister said.