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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Monday for closer ties between Türkiye and the U.S., stressing that crises affecting Türkiye's region and the wider world require sustained dialogue between the two key NATO allies.
Speaking at the "100 Years of Friendship Gala" in New York, Erdogan said cooperation between the two NATO allies had produced positive results on issues ranging from the Middle East to Africa and Asia.
"We are determined to continue this by redoubling our efforts in the coming period," Erdogan added.
Erdogan said the two countries had made significant progress in their relationship, pointing to his "sincere and exceptional dialogue" with U.S. President Donald Trump and Trump's visit to Ankara in July for the NATO Summit.
Erdogan linked closer political ties to stronger economic and trade relations, noting that bilateral trade had doubled over the past decade despite global economic and political volatility.
"We cannot and do not consider our strategic relations with the United States separately from our economic and trade relations. On the contrary, our trade relations today are among the leading factors that support and advance our political relations," he said.
Bilateral trade topped $38 billion in 2025 and reached $28 billion in the first eight months of this year. Erdogan expects the figure to reach $40 billion by the end of the year and described the $100 billion trade target agreed with Trump as "extremely realistic and achievable."
Despite the conflicts and crises around it, Erdogan said Türkiye has maintained and strengthened its "island of stability" position, and is ready to expand cooperation with the U.S. in nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas, civil aviation and high technology. Defense remains a major part of the partnership, both bilaterally and within NATO.
"Developing the defense industry, traditionally one of the strongest areas of our partnership, both bilaterally and within NATO is essential," Erdogan said, calling for the two sides to overcome existing barriers and give their ties "new momentum."
"Deepening our cooperation with the United States in a multidimensional manner, including opportunities for joint production, will be in our mutual interest," he added.
Türkiye's defense exports have risen from $248 million two decades ago to more than $10 billion, while the country's share of global defense equipment exports has increased by more than 120% over the past five years, Erdogan indicated.
He emphasized Turkish companies' growing ability to invest in the U.S. and said he expects Türkiye to soon rank among the world's top 10 defense exporters.
Erdogan also highlighted Türkiye's investment potential, saying the country has attracted nearly $300 billion in foreign direct investment over the past 24 years. "Türkiye has never left anyone who trusted it halfway," he said, adding that the government was launching a new investment drive.
The package announced in April and enacted in June expands tax incentives for exporters, transit trade and multinational companies moving regional or global management functions to Türkiye.
Eligible companies can receive a 95% corporate tax deduction on qualifying foreign-sourced profits, rising to 100% for certain operations at the Istanbul Financial Center and designated industrial zones.
The measures also introduce a new framework for qualified service centers and offer tax advantages to companies managing overseas operations from Türkiye, while eligible individuals relocating to the country can receive a 20-year income tax exemption on foreign-sourced income under certain conditions.
"Come and manage your operations from Türkiye," Erdogan told investors, urging the U.S.-Türkiye Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to continue promoting investment in the country. "We have a long road ahead. There are obstacles we need to overcome and steps we need to take."
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