President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and emphasized Türkiye's longstanding dedication to peace in its international policy, shedding light on the profound repercussions of the ongoing conflict on Europe's eastern borders.
President Erdoğan stated, "The war has not only resulted in a humanitarian tragedy but has also unleashed formidable challenges across multiple sectors, from the economy to security, and from energy to food security." The Turkish President further warned about the alarming proliferation of terrorist organizations that exploit the ambitions of global powers and spread like an epidemic amidst worsening socio-economic conditions and rapid technological advancements. Moreover, he expressed deep concern over the surge in xenophobia, racism, and Islamophobia over the past year.
President Erdoğan expressed his satisfaction with this year's General Assembly theme of trust and solidarity, drawing attention to its alignment with Türkiye's goal. "Our vision of the 'Türkiye Century,' which we are bringing to life on the 100th anniversary of our Republic, exemplifies our shared goals," stated the President, adding, “Our call for the establishment of an international system that eliminates global injustices, addresses economic inequalities, generates peace, security, stability, and prosperity, and is inclusive and humane, resonates more than ever."
Addressing the issue of food security, President Erdoğan underscored Türkiye's key role in diversifying supply routes and sources, adding, "Through the Black Sea Initiative, launched in collaboration with the United Nations, we have averted the threat of a global hunger crisis by ensuring the shipment of 33 million tons of grain products to world markets."
On the sidelines of the UNGA, President Erdoğan addressed the 13th Türkiye Investment Conference held by the Türkiye-US Business Council.
President Erdoğan touched on the robust strategic partnership between Türkiye and the United States, emphasizing the importance of expanding cooperation across various sectors, including groundbreaking technologies, critical industries, innovation, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. He highlighted the substantial growth in bilateral trade, stating that it exceeded USD 32 billion with a growth rate of over 15 percent. Notably, President Erdoğan pointed out that bilateral trade between the two countries had increased by 1.5 times over the past decade, with the United States ranking as the second-largest export destination and the fifth-largest import source for Türkiye last year.
President Erdoğan highlighted the recent inauguration of the Istanbul Financial Center, stressing Türkiye's aspiration to transform the country into a global hub for finance and participation finance. President Erdoğan stated, "Within the center, we will create a new structure to facilitate the marketing and valuation of diverse energy products, ranging from natural gas to minerals." President Erdoğan also spoke at a dinner organized by the Turkish-American National Steering Committee (TASC) in New York. During his address, President Erdoğan expressed his gratitude to the attendees for their role in building social bridges between Türkiye and the United States.
President Erdoğan emphasized their efforts in representing Türkiye's rich culture to the US people while defending their own identity in the United States. During his visit to New York, President Erdoğan engaged in various meetings with world leaders, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Polish President Andrzej Duda, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Additionally, President Erdoğan hosted several notable individuals at the Türkevi Center (Turkish House) in New York, including Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, as well as representatives from the Meskhetian Turks and the American Jewish community.