WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Türkiye Business Council in collaboration with The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) held talks with 30 leading U.S. and Turkish defense and aerospace companies and both governments on the margins of the Istanbul Defense Industry Fair (IDEF).
The discussions build on the positive momentum from the NATO Summit in Vilnius earlier this month and the meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffry Flake and Turkish Deputy Minister of Defense Celal Sami Tüfekçi led participation from their respective countries.
In his remarks, Ambassador Flake highlighted the private sector’s contributions to the nations’ shared defense goals: “After the successful NATO Summit, what better time for us to come together at IDEF to support the business and defense partnerships that strengthen U.S.-Türkiye security alliance?”
Deputy Minister of National Defense of Türkiye Celal Sami Tüfekci joined the working breakfast on US-Türkiye Defense & Aerospace matters and underscored, “the importance of continued cooperation between our countries in defense industry and relations.”
Jennifer Miel, Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber's U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, said that "U.S.-Turkish defense and aerospace cooperation form the foundation of high-tech, global supply chain partnerships between our two nations. NATO allies U.S. and Türkiye can rise to the challenge and help meet current and next generation defense production needs outlined by the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO for a more stable, secure, and prosperous future."
