Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks with Romanian President Nicușor Dan at Istanbul Shipyard Command, where the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on key regional and international developments.

According to a statement released following the meeting, the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Türkiye and Romania in a range of strategic sectors, including trade, defense, and security, while also addressing ongoing developments in the Black Sea region and efforts to promote regional stability.

President Erdoğan emphasized the importance Türkiye attaches to its partnership with Romania, describing bilateral relations as a valuable component of regional cooperation. He noted that Ankara remains committed to taking further steps aimed at deepening collaboration and expanding ties between the two countries.

The Turkish president highlighted the growing importance of cooperation in defense and security matters, stressing that enhanced coordination can contribute to peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the wider region.

A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to security issues in the Black Sea, a region that has gained increasing strategic importance amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Erdoğan underscored Türkiye's commitment to maintaining close coordination with Romania and other littoral states to preserve stability and security in the Black Sea. He stated that Türkiye continues to pursue careful and coordinated efforts with regional partners to safeguard maritime security and ensure freedom of navigation.

The Black Sea has remained a focal point of international attention since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with regional countries seeking to prevent further escalation and maintain stability along vital maritime routes.

The leaders also discussed broader regional developments, including diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East and advancing peace initiatives.

President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye is closely monitoring recent positive developments concerning Iran and expressed hope that diplomatic progress could contribute to wider peace efforts across the region.

He further stated that Ankara is working intensively to ensure that emerging opportunities for dialogue and de-escalation also support international efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Türkiye has continued to position itself as a key diplomatic actor in regional conflicts, advocating dialogue and negotiated solutions while maintaining communication channels with all relevant parties.

The meeting between Erdoğan and Dan reflects the growing strategic partnership between Türkiye and Romania, both of which play important roles in the security, economic, and political dynamics of the Black Sea region. (ILKHA)