Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili held a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering regional stability.

President Erdoğan highlighted the robust economic and social bonds between Türkiye and Georgia, emphasizing their shared strategic projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and critical oil and natural gas pipelines. He noted that Türkiye has been Georgia’s largest trade partner for 17 consecutive years, with the two nations achieving a previously set trade volume target of $3 billion. Erdoğan also underscored the significant Turkish investments in Georgia, with Turkish contracting companies undertaking projects worth $5.5 billion.

“We have reaffirmed our will to further deepen our relations, built on strong social and economic foundations,” Erdoğan stated. “We will continue to enhance our trade and investment relations to contribute to the prosperity of our peoples.”

The leaders discussed the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, a key component of the Middle Corridor, and expressed their commitment to ensuring its full operational capacity. They also addressed joint transportation and logistics initiatives aimed at boosting connectivity.

On regional and international issues, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s unwavering support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He emphasized the role of trilateral mechanisms involving Türkiye, Georgia, and Azerbaijan in promoting peace and cooperation in the region. A forthcoming meeting of foreign ministers from these countries is planned to be hosted in Türkiye.

The leaders also touched on pressing global concerns, including Black Sea security, peace processes in the Caucasus, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “As Türkiye and Georgia, we will continue to act shoulder to shoulder for cooperation, peace, and development in our region and beyond,” Erdoğan affirmed, underscoring their shared vision for a stable and prosperous future.

The press conference concluded with both presidents expressing optimism about the continued growth of Türkiye-Georgia relations, with a focus on building a brighter future for the region. (ILKHA)