Officials underscored on Thursday the dedication of Türkiye and the United States to boost and deepen their financial ties, highlighting the importance of dialogue between the 2 NATO companions regardless of disagreements on a spread of points.
“In the economic field, the governments of both countries are determined to revitalize and further develop relations,” Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated.
Bolat’s remarks got here on the sidelines of the thirty ninth American-Turkish Conference in Washington, seen as a premier venue for U.S. and Turkish business leaders to interact in business diplomacy.
Pointing out that Türkiye and the U.S. have been allies for greater than 70 years, Bolat stated that though there are some tensions within the political and financial fields every so often, there was a constant enhance in commerce quantity.
Relations between the 2 NATO allies boast an extended historical past of army and financial cooperation, however their strategic partnership has seen many diplomatic ups and downs over the latest years over a number of challenges and disagreements.
Ties considerably thawed in latest months, notably after Ankara ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid earlier this yr. But tensions persist over Syria, Russia and the struggle in Gaza.
Bolat added that the U.S. has greater than $2 trillion (TL 64.45 trillion) in imports and famous that Türkiye’s exports to the nation stood at round $14 billion.
Marisa Lago, the under-secretary of commerce for worldwide commerce on the U.S. Department of Commerce, highlighted the breadth of business relations between Türkiye and the United States, starting from textiles, aviation tools and clear power to digital applied sciences.
“Looking ahead, we are quite optimistic about opportunities for expanding our partnership,” Lago stated.
‘Ambitious’ commerce goal
The two states intention for $100 billion in bilateral commerce, a goal endorsed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his American counterpart Joe Biden.
Bolat repeated that Ankara is “committed” to attaining that quantity.
“Even though we have observed a considerable volume of trade and investment in the last couple of years, we still have a long path to reach our target of a $100 billion trade volume,” he stated.
“Türkiye is fully committed to realizing this target, and we are ready to engage in joint works to further our trade relations.”
Bolat stated he had a “constructive and fruitful meeting” with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
“Turkish-American relations will speed up and will be fostered in the near future, in all levels, from investment to trade, from services to industry, from financial cooperation to green economy cooperation. On all levels, we are ready to talk, we are ready to move ahead,” he added.
The minister stated greater than 120 managers from large- and medium-sized firms within the U.S. might be in Istanbul subsequent week on the Trade Winds occasion to carry conferences with their counterparts from the business world for 3 days.
Bolat stated to succeed in the “ambitious” commerce goal, Türkiye and the U.S. have to additional the dialogue between the international locations and business communities in any respect ranges, “especially in a world where we face uncertainties more than ever.”
“We need to make best use of all communication channels, and work more closely through available platforms,” he stated.
Focusing on convergences
Sedat Önal, Türkiye’s ambassador to Washington, echoed that view, stressing that the 2 international locations shouldn’t have the “luxury” of placing emphasis on disagreements whereas stressing the necessity to deal with factors of convergence.
Önal described Türkiye and the U.S. as “two staunch NATO allies,” including that the friendship and solidarity between the 2 international locations have “stood the test of time.”
The disputes embody the U.S.’ cooperation with the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian wing, the YPG, its stance towards the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), disagreements over Ankara’s buy of Russia’s S-400 air protection system and Washington’s sanctions towards Türkiye.
Önal stated Türkiye is surrounded by virtually all “crisis flashpoints” world wide, noting the wars in Ukraine and Gaza in addition to different conflicts within the area together with in Syria, Iraq, Libya and the South Caucasus.
“This is the environment in which we need to operate in coordination and cooperation with stakeholders like America to serve peace, security and stability in the region and beyond the region,” he stated.
“In such an environment, we do not have the luxury of emphasizing our disagreements, we need to increase our convergences,” he added.
“This is something that we are going to do in my tenure here, to try to increase points of convergence to address issues that are of common concern to us, but also very important for regional peace and security.”
Önal stated that one essential sturdy dimension of the Turkish-U.S. relationship is financial and business relations.
In his deal with on the convention, Burak Akçapar, Türkiye’s deputy overseas minister, burdened the enduring nature of communication between Türkiye and the U.S., saying the 2 allies have been in fixed talks.
While noting that the 2 NATO allies have all the time been cooperating and consulting with one another, Akçapar stated in addition they have points that they disagree on.
“But communications on all these channels have never gone away,” he added.
“We are the two largest armed forces in NATO,” he stated when explaining the character of relations between Türkiye and the U.S.
U.S. Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass stated Türkiye and the U.S. are on the “cusp of a new phase” of their relationship, including that it begins with a return to “fundamentals,” together with “collective defense.”
Bass stated the 2 international locations are additionally in discussions to discover new alternatives in areas, together with commerce, the financial system and the local weather.
He stated the 2 NATO allies also can work collectively to deal with regional challenges and praised Türkiye’s “important role” within the first two years of the Russian struggle in Ukraine.
“Türkiye will have a very important role to play as we work to bring this conflict to a close,” Bass stated.
‘New chapter’
Nail Olpak, the pinnacle of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), stated the thirty ninth version of the convention in Washington is a testomony to the enduring partnership between Türkiye and the U.S. in fostering financial cooperation.
Olpak stated it’s evident that the bond between Türkiye and the U.S. extends greater than commerce and funding.
“Our collaboration runs deep, encompassing financial cooperation and strategic alliances,” he added.
Khush Choksy, senior vp for the Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, stated the convention would begin a brand new chapter in commerce and commerce relations between the 2 states.
Murat Özyeğin, chairperson of Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAIK), for his half, stated one of many “most definitive aspects” of the practically 200-year friendship between Türkiye and the U.S. has been the power to compartmentalize political and financial relations.
“I believe the 39th American-Turkish Conference will mark a promising new chapter in our strategic business partnership,” he stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
