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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by phone on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open dialogue channels between the United States and Venezuela and expressing hope for reduced tensions between the two nations.
The conversation covered bilateral relations between Türkiye and Venezuela as well as regional issues, according to Turkish presidential sources. Erdogan's call comes amid ongoing strained relations between Caracas and Washington, which has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela.
Türkiye and Venezuela have developed increasingly close relations since 2016, despite minimal engagement during the decades following the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1950. The relationship has been characterized by what analysts describe as the two leaders' shared frustrations with Western policies and U.S. sanctions.
Turkish Airlines launched direct flights connecting Istanbul to Caracas via Havana in December 2016 as economic partnerships between the countries expanded. Gold exports from Venezuela to Türkiye surged from zero to $900 million in the first nine months of 2018, with Reuters reporting that 23 tons of mined gold were transported from Venezuela to Istanbul that year.
Ankara emerged as a key supporter of Maduro during Venezuela's presidential crisis, backing him over opposition leader Juan Guaido. When Guaido attempted to assume presidential powers in 2019, Erdogan condemned the move on social media, stating that "only democratic elections can determine how a country is governed."
The Turkish president visited Caracas in December 2018, making him one of few major world leaders to travel to Venezuela during the political upheaval. Maduro has made multiple visits to Türkiye, including trips to Ankara in October 2017, December 2017, and June 2022.
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