Mehmet Simsek and Scott Bessent address investment, sanctions and Türkiye's regional peace efforts in Washington meeting
Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, DC to discuss strengthening economic ties and regional cooperation, the Turkish Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Wednesday's meeting, which was also attended by Turkish Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan, took place in a “constructive atmosphere.”
Both sides emphasized the shared political will of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump to deepen multidimensional relations.
Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in investment, trade, transport and energy. Simsek highlighted the importance of removing current restrictions to improve collaboration in the defense industry.
The Turkish delegation also briefed US officials on Türkiye's ongoing economic stabilization program.
The two parties also exchanged views on regional issues. Ankara emphasized the need to lift sanctions on Syria and explained its diplomatic efforts in facilitating a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine.
Simsek released a statement Thursday thanking Bessent for their productive discussions.
"Under the leadership of President Erdogan and President Trump, Türkiye is committed to deepening & broadening our strategic partnership with the United States across all fronts - from trade & investment to defense, space, energy, AI & robotics," he said on X.
"The potential for our cooperation is enormous, with huge upside for both nations. We look forward to building on this momentum to drive economic growth, technological advancement, and invest in regional peace and security," he added.
The talks came amid growing economic ties between the two countries.
Bilateral trade continues its upward trend, and both sides have been committing to raising this figure to $100 billion.
