Ankara, August 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: Türkiye and Georgia will continue to work “shoulder to shoulder” to advance regional cooperation, peace, and development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday at a joint press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili during the latter’s official visit to Ankara.
Highlighting the strategic significance of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars Railway, Erdoğan described it as “the backbone of the Middle Corridor” and welcomed its operation at full capacity. He noted that bilateral trade had surpassed $3 billion in recent years, with both countries aiming to reach $5 billion.
“We are determined to promote mutual investments,” Erdoğan said, adding that more than 2,000 Turkish companies currently operate in Georgia, benefiting from the favorable business climate. He emphasized defense and military cooperation as key priorities and underscored the importance of trilateral mechanisms with Azerbaijan in promoting regional stability.
Erdoğan announced plans to host the next Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and, once parliamentary sessions resume, to convene a Trilateral Speakers of Parliament Meeting. The two leaders also discussed the security of the Black Sea, the peace process in the Caucasus, the war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Turkish president reiterated Ankara’s commitment to supporting the safe and dignified return of the Ahıska Turks, who were deported from their homeland in 1944. “Türkiye will continue to provide all necessary support to ensure that this process progresses soundly,” he said.
President Kavelashvili praised Erdoğan’s role in efforts to mediate peace in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, stressing Türkiye’s importance in supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to contributing to the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace process, calling the trilateral cooperation with Türkiye and Azerbaijan “an excellent example” of regional stability and mutual respect for territorial integrity.
Kavelashvili also highlighted Türkiye as Georgia’s largest trading partner and expressed interest in enhancing trade opportunities, including through free trade agreements. He cited the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars Railway as crucial projects that bolster political and economic ties.
The Georgian president’s two-day visit to Türkiye began with an official welcoming ceremony in Ankara, and an official dinner hosted by Erdoğan was scheduled later in the day.
