President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss bilateral ties, regional challenges, and global issues, Türkiye’s Presidential Communications Directorate announced.
Erdoğan emphasized that constructive dialogue with France remains important for Türkiye and reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, energy, and the defense industry. He also underlined Türkiye’s determination to revitalize relations with the European Union, calling for the swift activation of necessary mechanisms to strengthen engagement.
On international affairs, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, stressing that negotiations held in Istanbul should advance with a results-oriented approach. He further welcomed France’s recognition of Palestine, stating that increased international pressure on Israel’s government could help advance a two-state solution. Both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining close coordination on the Palestinian issue.
The talks also covered the situation in Syria, as well as concerns over the rise of xenophobia and hate crimes across Europe. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot were among the senior officials present at the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Erdoğan also held a separate meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who likewise met with Macron.