Ankara: Trkiye is willing to cooperate with Japan in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, stressing that joint development and production could offer significant opportunities to both countries. Speaking to Japan's Nikkei Asia, Fidan highlighted Trkiye's emergence as a major drone producer, saying that Ankara is eager to deepen defense-industrial relations with Tokyo.
According to Anadolu Agency, the foreign minister emphasized that Trkiye and Japan have complementary capabilities, suggesting a strong potential for mutually beneficial collaboration. He pointed out that Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle or drone technologies have proven themselves in different operational environments and could offer valuable opportunities for joint development and co-production with Japan.
The foreign minister added that Trkiye has developed advanced and field-tested capabilities in aviation, particularly in unmanned aerial systems and anti-drone technologies, which could provide a strong basis for collaboration with Japan. Fidan also mentioned progress in negotiations on a social security agreement between the two countries, expressing hope for an agreement in the near future.
Fidan noted the untapped potential between Trkiye and Japan in broader areas such as energy, digital transformation, aerospace technologies, robotics, and resilient supply chains. He highlighted Ankara's strategic objective of producing high-value intermediate and final products from critical minerals, emphasizing the potential for a win-win partnership with Japanese technology and investment.
Commenting on ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US, Fidan revealed that both sides are eager to reach a positive conclusion, with an agreement being closer than ever. He pointed out that the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is exerting significant pressure on both the US and Iran, with considerable international impact on energy security, food security, and rising prices.
Responding to a question about US President Donald Trump's proposal for regional countries to join the Abraham Accords, Fidan noted Trkiye's historical and commercial ties with Israel. He stated that Ankara had made its position clear that Israel must cease its actions against Palestinians and provide Gazans access to basic human needs for normal relations to resume.
Fidan also addressed statements by Israeli politicians portraying Trkiye as a strategic threat, suggesting that Israel's domestic politics often require an external enemy to pursue regional ambitions. He emphasized the importance of the international community preventing further destabilization of the regional and global order by Israel.
Highlighting the potential for regional cooperation, Fidan mentioned a 'golden opportunity' for collaboration among countries including Pakistan, Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Gulf states. He indicated that Israel could eventually join this cooperative platform if it recognizes a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.
Regarding NATO summit preparations, Fidan expressed Trkiye's hope to host leaders and defense ministers from NATO's Indo-Pacific partners at the alliance's summit scheduled for July in Ankara. He also mentioned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's discussions with US President Donald Trump regarding the latter's potential attendance, indicating preparations are underway to accommodate him.