Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global developments, Trkiye's Communications Directorate said.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized the need for Trkiye and France to elevate their mutual trade goals, asserting that Ankara would persist in efforts to enhance cooperation across various sectors. He also highlighted the importance of bolstering NATO's European pillar to maintain the "Transatlantic Bond" among allies, suggesting that this could be achieved without weakening alliance ties or causing unnecessary duplication. Erdogan affirmed Trkiye's support for the EU's defense initiatives based on these principles.

Addressing the situation with Iran, Erdogan expressed hope that the Islamabad Memorandum would contribute to regional peace, noting that Trkiye remained "optimistic but cautious" and emphasized the need for vigilance against provocations. He also mentioned that Ankara was actively working to help resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict and was taking measures to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts.

In addition, Erdogan conveyed his well wishes to Macron following a bomb attack near the hotel where the French president was staying in Damascus, as reported by the Communications Directorate.