President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conducted an intensive round of diplomacy in New York during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, holding a series of meetings with world leaders at the Turkish House.
Located directly across from the United Nations headquarters, the Turkish House became one of the main centers of Türkiye’s diplomatic activity in New York. Erdogan met with Vietnamese President To Lam, Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi, Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. He also received physician and biotechnology entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong.
Strategic partnership and defense cooperation with Vietnam
During his meeting with Vietnamese President To Lam, Erdogan discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments.
Erdogan welcomed Vietnam’s positive response to Türkiye’s proposal to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a “Strategic Partnership,” saying the two countries were working to deepen cooperation in investment, trade and particularly the defense industry.
The Turkish president also stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Ankara and Hanoi on international platforms and invited To Lam to attend the COP31 Leaders Summit in Türkiye.
Libya talks focus on energy, defense and mining
Erdogan also met with Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi, with discussions focusing on Türkiye-Libya relations, the political process in Libya and regional developments.
The Turkish president said Ankara would continue its efforts to support stability in Libya and emphasized the importance of maintaining a political process based on dialogue and consensus.
Erdogan said Türkiye would not accept any formula that runs contrary to Libya’s interests and highlighted ongoing efforts to expand cooperation in energy, defense and mining. He also invited al-Menfi to the COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya.
Regional developments discussed with Kuwait
Erdogan held talks with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, discussing bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.
The president said Türkiye and Kuwait were working to strengthen cooperation in several areas, particularly trade and energy. Addressing conflicts in the region, Erdogan said Türkiye stood alongside regional countries such as Kuwait and emphasized the importance of international efforts aimed at ending Israeli attacks in the region.
Trade, security and defense cooperation with Kosovo
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was another leader received by Erdogan at the Turkish House.
The two discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments. Erdogan said efforts would continue to raise bilateral trade to a level reflecting the potential of the two countries.
He also highlighted plans to deepen cooperation in security and the defense industry, while reiterating Türkiye’s support for Kosovo in strengthening its position within the international community.
Erdogan stressed Ankara’s support for dialogue among Balkan countries and invited Kurti to the COP31 Leaders Summit in Türkiye.
Erdogan reiterates support for Lebanon
During his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Erdogan discussed Türkiye-Lebanon relations and developments across the region.
Erdogan said Türkiye continued to work toward lasting peace and stability in Lebanon and stated that an international initiative would be needed to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL.
He also said Türkiye would continue providing humanitarian and medical assistance to Lebanon and standing by the Lebanese people during difficult periods. Salam was also invited to attend the COP31 Leaders Summit.
Türkiye and Georgia discuss trade and regional cooperation
Erdogan’s diplomatic schedule continued with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Their talks focused on trade, transportation and security cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Erdogan expressed satisfaction that Türkiye has remained Georgia’s largest trading partner for 18 years and said the two countries would continue taking steps to deepen cooperation in trade, transportation, security and other areas.
He also emphasized that more effective use of trilateral cooperation mechanisms between Türkiye, Georgia and Azerbaijan would benefit all three countries.
Erdogan receives Patrick Soon-Shiong
As part of his New York program, Erdogan also received physician, biotechnology entrepreneur and businessman Patrick Soon-Shiong at the Turkish House. The meeting was held behind closed doors.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Trade Minister Omer Bolat, National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran and other senior Turkish officials accompanied Erdogan at various meetings throughout the day.
Erdogan’s meetings at the Turkish House formed part of Türkiye’s broader diplomatic activity surrounding the 81st UN General Assembly, with the Turkish delegation’s New York program continuing with further bilateral meetings and international events.
