Ankara: Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz announced that Trkiye and Belgium are set on deepening their cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and digital transformation. This announcement followed discussions with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot in Ankara.

According to Anadolu Agency, Yilmaz shared on Turkish social media platform NSosyal that he hosted Prevot and his delegation at the Presidential Complex in Ankara as part of the Belgian Economic Mission to Trkiye, led by Queen Mathilde. Yilmaz expressed satisfaction with the strengthening relations between Trkiye and Belgium, highlighting their collaboration as NATO allies and partners in various domains such as trade, energy, connectivity, the defense industry, and digital transformation.

Yilmaz highlighted that the bilateral trade volume between the two nations reached $9.2 billion in 2025, with aspirations to further increase this figure in the coming years. He emphasized the countries' commitment to bolstering defense cooperation within the NATO framework, while also focusing on strategic topics like the Middle Corridor and energy security.

Additionally, Yilmaz underscored the significance of fostering a constructive, inclusive, and strategic approach in Trkiye-EU relations. He expressed optimism that the meetings conducted during the Belgian Economic Mission, noted as the largest Belgian delegation visit to Trkiye under Queen Mathilde's leadership, would pave the way for new partnerships and signify a pivotal shift in relations with both Belgium and the EU.