Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held a joint press conference in Ankara on Monday, emphasizing deepening bilateral cooperation across defense, energy, technology, and regional diplomacy.

Erdoğan said the two leaders conducted comprehensive talks covering trade, tourism, energy, defense, infrastructure, transportation, and science and technology, noting significant potential for future collaboration.

“We have realized important projects in the defense industry with our strategic partner South Korea. The Altay tank project is one of the most successful examples,” Erdoğan said, recalling that Türkiye began delivering the new national tanks to its military last month.

He added that Ankara and Seoul aim to further diversify joint defense projects, with both sides exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the coming period. Discussions also included continuing negotiations on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Türkiye. Erdoğan described the newly signed memorandum of understanding between Korea Electric Power Corporation and Türkiye Nuclear Energy Company as an “important step.”

Beyond defense, the two leaders addressed cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, battery technologies, innovation, and renewable energy. Erdoğan announced that another agreement was signed between private-sector partners for a new wind energy initiative, and that the two countries will jointly pursue a project in blood plasma technologies.

Regional Issues Discussed: Palestine, Ukraine, Syria

Erdoğan said the leaders also exchanged views on key regional and global issues, including Palestine, Ukraine, Syria, and developments on the Korean Peninsula. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in international platforms such as the United Nations, G20, and MIKTA.

He welcomed South Korea’s decision earlier this year to restore diplomatic relations with Syria, saying Türkiye and South Korea could work together in regions such as Iraq, Africa, and the Middle East, particularly in the reconstruction of Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.

On the situation in Gaza, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s position in support of a permanent ceasefire and a two-state solution.

“The establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital, is essential for fair and lasting peace,” he said. Türkiye, he added, expects all friendly and allied nations to recognize the State of Palestine.

Türkiye Reaffirms Mediation Efforts in Ukraine War

Addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s stance on ending the war through diplomacy remains unchanged.

“Our attitude toward terminating the conflict and encouraging the parties toward negotiations has never changed,” he said, noting recent talks with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Türkiye will continue to support all diplomatic initiatives, including the Istanbul process, to establish lasting peace.”

The visit by President Lee marks a renewed effort to strengthen Türkiye–South Korea strategic ties across multiple sectors, with both governments signaling readiness to advance major joint projects in the years ahead. (ILKHA)