President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he delivered a comprehensive address on peace, global security, economic transformation, and sustainable development.
President Erdoğan was accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan; Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu; Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır; Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat; Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan; Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar; Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek; Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş; and Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler.
In his speech at the UN General Assembly Hall, President Erdoğan recalled the opening words of the UN Charter: “The purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security." The President noted that, while the world marked the 80th anniversary of the UN, tragic events in many regions continued to overshadow the spirit of its founding principles. Referring specifically to Gaza, he expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis, stating that the scale and duration of the suffering, witnessed by the international community for over 700 days, raises grave questions that demand urgent global attention.
Reaffirming Türkiye's position as a reliable security provider, President Erdoğan stated that the country continues to contribute to the operations and missions of the United Nations, NATO, OSCE, and the European Union. The President announced that the 2026 NATO Summit would be held in Ankara and underlined that Türkiye's alliance with the United States is growing stronger across trade, investment, energy, and defense industries.
Addressing the global economy, President Erdoğan noted that increasing protectionism and disruptions in supply chains have led to significant structural shifts in international trade. The President stressed Türkiye's support for reforming the rules-based multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization and highlighted the importance of ensuring affordable, secure, and sustainable energy access for developing countries.
The President also drew attention to Türkiye's efforts to advance the East-West Middle Corridor Project through the Caspian route, noting that the country's modern transport infrastructure and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway contribute to the resilience of global trade.
On environmental sustainability, President Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye's commitment to the 2053 Net Zero Emission target and commended the Zero Waste Movement, led by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, for its growing global impact. The President added that developed countries must now fulfill their climate responsibilities, as this has become an obligation rather than a choice.