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Türkiye marked a significant milestone Sunday, commemorating three-quarters of a century of diplomatic ties with nine Latin American and Caribbean countries while highlighting dramatic growth in economic and political cooperation across the region.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement celebrating relations with the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, expressing pride in the partnerships established since 1950.
"We are very pleased with the level of cooperation achieved so far," the ministry said, emphasizing that these relationships reflect Türkiye's broader strategy of building extensive partnerships across the Americas.
Türkiye's engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean has transformed since its outreach policy began in 1998, with 2006 declared the "Year of Latin America and the Caribbean" in Türkiye. The country has expanded from just six embassies in the region to 19 embassies and one consulate general by February 2025, following the opening of an embassy in Managua, Nicaragua.
The reciprocal relationship has strengthened equally, with LAC countries now maintaining 18 embassies and eight consulates-general in Türkiye. Under the Latin America and Caribbean Action Plan, Türkiye has tripled its diplomatic presence while achieving a fifteenfold increase in trade volumes.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spearheaded Türkiye's regional outreach through extensive travel and high-level meetings. In 2024, his diplomatic calendar included the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil, visits to Venezuela and Mexico, and hosting Cuba's deputy prime minister in Ankara.
Fidan co-chaired the Türkiye-Venezuela Joint Cooperation Commission in May and welcomed Brazil's foreign minister in June. He accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, continuing the momentum into 2025 by hosting Chilean and El Salvador foreign ministers before representing Erdogan at the BRICS Summit in Brazil.
Bilateral trade has surged from approximately $1 billion in the early 2000s to $15.6 billion by the end of 2024, supported by Türkiye's trade offices and commercial attachés in 10 LAC countries. The country has established strategic partnerships with Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia while maintaining political consultation mechanisms with 19 regional nations.
Cultural connections have flourished through Turkish Airlines' service to nine destinations across eight LAC countries and growing interest in Turkish language and culture. Through the Türkiye Scholarships program, 625 students from the region have studied in Türkiye, with 294 currently enrolled, while the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency has implemented more than 500 regional projects.
Defense cooperation has expanded through military attachés in five LAC countries, with ASELSAN opening its Latin America regional office in Santiago, Chile, in April 2024. Türkiye also contributes to multiple regional organizations, including the Caribbean Community, the Organization of American States, and the UN Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
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