Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and ways to deepen strategic cooperation.

According to a statement released by the Turkish Presidency, the meeting focused on strengthening the longstanding partnership between Türkiye and Albania, with particular emphasis on expanding collaboration in key sectors, including the defense industry.

President Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to further enhancing bilateral ties, expressing confidence that cooperation between Ankara and Tirana would continue to grow across a broad range of fields.

He highlighted the defense industry as a priority area for future collaboration, underscoring the strategic importance of closer cooperation between the two NATO allies in addressing evolving regional and global security challenges.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination within NATO and other multilateral platforms.

President Erdoğan said the NATO Summit in Ankara had clearly demonstrated the unity and solidarity among allied nations in addressing common security concerns and strengthening collective defense.

The meeting came as NATO leaders gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss key issues including regional security, defense cooperation, and the alliance's strategic priorities amid an increasingly complex global security environment.

During the talks, President Erdoğan also invited Prime Minister Rama to attend the COP31 Leaders' Summit, which is scheduled to take place in the Turkish resort city of Antalya in November. The summit is expected to bring together world leaders to discuss global climate action and sustainable development.

Türkiye and Albania maintain close political, economic, and defense ties, with cooperation expanding in recent years through increased trade, investment, military collaboration, and joint initiatives within NATO. The meeting reaffirmed both countries' commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership while promoting stability and cooperation in the Balkans and beyond. (ILKHA)