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Türkiye's advances in its defense industry could open the way for defense cooperation with Luxembourg in communication and information sharing, Claude Wiseler, president of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies, said Thursday.
Wiseler said ties between the two countries, now marking 80 years, need "new momentum" given the current geopolitical situation, while Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus thanked Luxembourg for backing Türkiye's European Union (EU) bid from the start.
Wiseler spoke at a joint news conference in Ankara after one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings with Kurtulmus.
"Türkiye has a very strong defense industry," Wiseler said.
"We know that Türkiye has made very significant progress in this regard. Therefore, I believe there could be important partnerships in communication and information sharing when it comes to defense policies," he added.
Wiseler said Luxembourg quadrupled its defense budget from 2021 to 2025, saying, "Initially, it corresponded to 6% of our gross domestic product. We quadrupled it."
He also pointed to Luxembourg’s strong finance sector as an area for future cooperation.
Wiseler thanked Kurtulmus for the invitation, saying the visit was a very good opportunity and the talks would be very productive. He said Luxembourg maintains free, open and direct contact with Türkiye.
He noted the two countries are marking the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
"We have always been partners, of course. We have always discussed issues, held talks and maintained contact. However, given the current geopolitical situation in the world, this cooperation and relationship now need to gain new momentum and move to a new level," Wiseler said.
"That is precisely why we are not looking for new partners. You are already a longstanding partner for us, but we want to take this partnership to another stage, to a different level," he added.
Wiseler said Luxembourg, a founding member of the EU, would continue cooperating with Türkiye, adding that Türkiye’s contribution to democracy and the rule of law on its European path will lead to important results.
He said he came with a large delegation that includes representatives of ruling, opposition, left-wing, and right-wing parties.
"Luxembourg has been one of the European countries friendly to Türkiye that has supported its EU membership process from the very beginning. Therefore, I consider it my duty to thank them openly once again," Kurtulmus said.
Kurtulmus said Türkiye has always maintained that diplomacy should be the main way to resolve regional problems, and that it has played a strong mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine war from the outset.
"We have also stated that the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran has already turned into an endless spiral of tension, from which neither the two countries, nor regional countries, nor the world will benefit in any way," he said.
Kurtulmus said they also discussed Israel’s long-standing aggressive stance in the region and its "inhumane actions" against the Palestinian people.
"We expressed our strong appreciation for Luxembourg’s decision last year to recognize the State of Palestine and conveyed our congratulations and thanks," he said.
Wiseler said Luxembourg stands with Ukraine and will continue to do so.
"We want peace to come as soon as possible. For this, Europe must also be at the table in these talks, in these negotiations, in the negotiations on peace in Ukraine, so that we can reach peace as soon as possible," he said.
On Israel and Palestine, Wiseler said a two-state solution is needed.
"We need to look at reality. The solution must take its place as much as possible, and peace must come to the region as soon as possible," he said.
Wiseler thanked Türkiye for its role in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"We can see that this peace will not be a two-day, three-day peace, but a long-term, lasting peace. We will continue to provide as much support as possible so that this peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be guaranteed," he said.
Kurtulmus said the two sides discussed the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process.
"We focused our discussions on the vital importance of this normalization process, with Türkiye’s involvement, in ensuring lasting peace in the Caucasus and thereby establishing secure connectivity between East and West, and between Asia, the Caucasus and Europe," he said.
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