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Türkiye’s ambassador to Bahrain, Ayse Koytak, expressed her hopes for the success of the 46th Gulf Summit hosted by Manama, stressing that the meeting comes at a time marked by profound geopolitical and economic shifts—a context that gives particular importance to its anticipated outcomes and their role in supporting regional stability, strengthening economic integration, and advancing joint action among Gulf and Middle Eastern states.
The ambassador told the Al-Bilad newspaper that Türkiye attaches great importance to its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
She noted that the partnership between the two sides has seen significant progress in recent years, driven by high-level dialogue and expanding cooperation in several key sectors, most notably defense industries and communications.
She added that the recent visits by the Turkish president to a number of Gulf countries reflect the strength of bilateral ties and their continued development.
Koytak said Ankara looks forward to hosting the seventh ministerial meeting of the High-Level Strategic Dialogue between Türkiye and the GCC at the earliest opportunity, stressing that the friendship between the Turkish and Gulf peoples is one of the key pillars of bilateral relations, particularly in culture and tourism.
The ambassador also welcomed the launch of negotiations on a comprehensive free-trade agreement between Türkiye and the GCC, noting that such an accord would strengthen trade and investment and open new horizons in technology, energy, logistics, and food security.
She also expressed Türkiye’s interest in taking part in major projects in the region, foremost among them the Gulf Railway project.
Koytak underscored the importance of strengthening responsible diplomatic cooperation to confront regional challenges, foremost among them the situation in Gaza, which continues to hinder efforts to achieve peace and stability.
She stressed that the shared vision and cultural history between the two sides make deeper institutional cooperation a natural and promising path for the future.
In conclusion, the ambassador reiterated her wishes for a successful summit, affirming Türkiye’s readiness to deepen its partnership with the GCC and to support efforts aimed at de-escalation and sustainable development.
She also wished Bahrain a successful presidency of the summit, coinciding with its upcoming nonpermanent membership on the U.N. Security Council for the 2026–27 term, describing this membership as an important opportunity to address priority regional and international issues.
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