At the Türkiye-U.S. Defense Industry Cooperation Roundtable Meeting held on the occasion of the 36th NATO Summit; Deputy Minister of National Defense Salih Ayhan, U.S. Under Secretary of War Michael P. Duffey, DEİK President Nail Olpak, DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) Chairman Murat Özyeğin, AmCham Türkiye President Emre Karter, ATBR Chairman General James L. Jones, and representatives of leading organizations of the Turkish-American defense industry came together.
Organized in cooperation with the DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), AmCham Türkiye, and the American Turkish Business Roundtable (ATBR) on the occasion of the 36th NATO Summit, the 'Türkiye-U.S. Defense Industry Cooperation Roundtable Meeting' was held in Ankara on July 7, 2026, with the participation of Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye Salih Ayhan, U.S. Department of War Under Secretary for Procurement and Military Acquisitions Michael P. Duffey, DEİK President Nail Olpak, DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) Chairman Murat Özyeğin, AmCham Türkiye President Emre Karter, ATBR Chairman General James L. Jones, and representatives of Turkish and American defense industry companies.
At the meeting, it was emphasized that the constructive, strategic, and forward-looking approach, which has recently gained strength in the relations between Türkiye and the United States, makes significant contributions to economic and commercial cooperation as well. Within this framework, it was stated that sustainable partnerships to be developed in strategic sectors such as the defense industry and advanced technology, in addition to the commercial relations between the two countries, will further strengthen the economic and industrial dimension of bilateral relations.
During the meeting, it was noted with satisfaction that in the ongoing contacts within the defense industry sector, opportunities for joint design, development, and production, supply chain integration, the development of joint projects in third countries, and cooperation in next-generation technologies are increasingly being established on a more concrete foundation. While it was expressed that the constructive dialogue and understanding of strategic cooperation maintained at a high level between Türkiye and the U.S. will pave the way for new partnerships in high value-added sectors, primarily the defense industry, it was evaluated that these developments will also make a significant contribution to achieving the 100 billion dollar bilateral trade volume target set by the leaders of the two countries in 2019.
Ayhan: "The Defense Industry is One of the Strongest Pillars in the Strategic Partnership of the Two Countries."
Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye Salih Ayhan stated that, "The constructive dialogue established between our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Mr. Donald Trump brings a new momentum to Türkiye-U.S. relations. This strategic partnership contributes not only to the interests of both countries but also to NATO's deterrence and the strengthening of the common security architecture. The defense industry is one of the strongest pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Having reached a localization rate of over 80 percent, with more than 3,500 companies and over 100,000 qualified employees, the Turkish defense industry has become a powerful production and technology ecosystem on a global scale. We are ready to take our cooperation with American companies further in the fields of joint production, R&D, and advanced technology. For this potential to be fully realized, it is of great importance to remove the obstacles to bilateral defense industry and trade cooperation. Reducing regulatory restrictions and paving the way."
Duffey: "I urge you to lean in and answer the call."
Under Secretary Duffey stated that, "In this gathering of allies and industry leaders, comes at a critical time in our partnership. We're here to talk business, but more importantly, to talk about our shared security. The world has always been a dangerous place, but we have returned to the era of great power competition today. Active conflicts and the evolving security environment, demand a revitalized and integrated transatlantic defense and industrial base. Our primary challenge is speed and scale, speed and accelerate production critical capabilities into the hands of the war fighter now, bureaucratic delays and production gaps are no longer acceptable their strategic vulnerabilities to the industry leaders in this room I urge you to lean in and answer the call, share with us, your regulatory choke points and supply chain bottleneck so we can work together to address them, make the necessary investments to expand production and build supply chain resilience. It is time to reduce roadblocks for partnership."
Olpak: "Global Security Needs Strengthen the Turkish-American Defense Partnership"
DEİK President Nail Olpak stated that, "Given today's strategic environment, increasing global security needs create significant opportunities for deeper cooperation in the areas of defense procurement, industrial capacity, and sustainment. We believe that combining Türkiye's advanced manufacturing capabilities, agile production base, and proven defense industry expertise with the technological leadership and procurement needs of the American defense ecosystem carries great value. Turkish defense companies have proven their abilities to rapidly scale production, provide reliable supply chain solutions, manufacture to rigorous military standards, and develop custom products for operational requirements. As DEİK, we expect the roundtable meeting we organized within the scope of the NATO Summit to serve as a platform to identify opportunities, establish common ground, and deepen our industrial and economic ties."
Özyeğin: "Our Industries Are Not Competitors, But Complementary"
DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) Chairman Murat Özyeğin stated that, "I believe that the defense and aerospace sectors will be one of the most important driving forces of the next growth period in the economic partnership between Türkiye and the United States. Our industries are not competitors to each other, but complementary. The steps to be taken in the fields of joint production, technology development, mutual investments, and supply chain integration will not only enhance the economic relations of the two countries but also the resilience and competitiveness of NATO's industrial ecosystem. As the business world, we welcome the recent positive developments in the defense industry, and I hope that this constructive momentum will transform into lasting collaborations."
AmCham Türkiye Chair Emre Karter stated that, "In today's changing security environment, strong collaborations between the public and private sectors are of greater importance than ever before. We believe that there are significant opportunities between the two countries in the fields of defense technologies, industrial capabilities, and investments. As AmCham Türkiye, we will continue to contribute to the further strengthening of this strategic partnership and to support the constructive role of the private sector."
ATBR Chairman General James L. Jones stated that, "The further strengthening of defense industry cooperation between the U.S. and Türkiye is of strategic importance not only for the two allied countries but also for the defense capacity of the NATO Alliance. I believe that the ongoing contacts in the field of defense industry will pave the way for new opportunities that will support concrete collaborations and long-term partnerships between the two countries."
The sponsors of the meeting were Lockheed Martin, Alp Havacılık, Canik, Havelsan, Kale Havacılık, and TEI.
The U.S. Chamber's U.S.-Turkey Business Council and Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAIK) are pleased to bring you the 38th American-Turkish Conference held virtually from September 14-17, 2020.
For more than three decades, this conference has been the premier event for U.S. and Turkish business executives and cabinet members. Together, we will discuss U.S.-Turkey cooperation in strategic growth sectors contributing to the ambitious $100 billion bilateral trade volume goal that will help fuel the economic recovery in both countries. Conference sessions will also explore new opportunities and the reforms needed for continued progress.
Join hundreds of leaders of the
U.S.-Turkey business community in our
brand-new virtual format!
Please note that if you have previously registered for the in-person American-Turkish Conference, scheduled for April 14-16, all registrations are transferrable. Credit will be applied where applicable.
Turkey-US commercial ties strengthened at New York event
Leading companies and investors convene with senior government officials for 9th Turkey Investment Conference
SEPT 26, 2018 // NEW YORK—The 9th Turkey Investment Conference, organized by the Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAIK), gathered Turkish and American executives at Gotham Hall in New York to discuss investment opportunities in Turkey and Turkey-US business ties.
In a boost for commercial ties between the two nations, the Conference – held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly – connected senior government officials and businesses from Turkey with American investors and corporate leaders interested in better understanding the business landscape in Turkey.
The economic relationship between Turkey and the U.S. is one of the world's most significant. Turkey and the U.S. do $20 billion in annual trade with one another, a figure that grew by nearly 18% in the past year. Turkey's economy is highly diverse, and attendance at the Conference reflected the country's status as a key destination for foreign investors. Leading Turkish companies were represented at the event, as well as many of America's largest and most important financial institutions and corporations.
Those in attendance heard from Turkey's President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Treasury and Finance H.E. Berat Albayrak, and Minister of Trade H.E. Ruhsar Pekcan.
TAIK Chairman Mehmet Ali Yalcindag spoke at the conference, saying, "The business relationship between Turkey and the United States has historically been based on mutual respect and cooperation – and a keen understanding of the mutual benefits. We should all work to ensure that's how it remains…There is simply too much at stake, and too much to gain."
The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) President Nail Olpak also spoke about the importance of commercial ties between Turkey and the U.S., saying, "I see the great passion and enthusiasm that the business community brings to its work every day, and I know that we will continue to serve as a bridge between our countries and will continue to enhance investment opportunities and trade relations."
Priya Basu, head of the World Bank's Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, spoke with Minister Pekcan about empowering women in business. Minister Pekcan said, "When you give a woman an opportunity, her potential is limitless. At my ministry, we are encouraging women to become involved with key sectors and activities in which we see particularly strong growth opportunities for both men and women – including e-commerce and e-trade."
Erin McPike, former CNN and NBC News journalist, interviewed Minister Albayrak, who spoke at length about the country's medium-term economic plan. "Last week we announced a new plan to focus on three things: rebalancing, discipline, and transformation. All options are on the table. Whatever is needed, whatever is required, whatever it takes to strengthen the backbone of the economy. It's going to be a bright future for Turkey," he said.
During a speech which closed the evening, President Erdoğan said, "History has shown us clearly that there is no winner of war, especially trade wars. This is a lose-lose equation in both the commercial and political spheres." He also said, "Our strategic partnership, which has survived so much, will overcome this turbulent period. I strongly believe that our close friendship with the United States will turn this process into an opportunity."
TAIK STATEMENT ON THE PASTOR CRISIS AND AMERICAN SANCTIONS
YALÇINDAĞ: "THERE SHOULD BE NO SANCTIONS BETWEEN OLD FRIENDS. TWO PRESIDENTS WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM"
The strain on the Turkish-American relations that has been going on for some time, has evolved with US Treasury Department adding Turkish Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül and Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu to their sanctions list. This new development is unacceptable given the bilateral relationship, NATO alliance, and because of the fact that it is direct political move aimed at the independence of the judicial process. We urge the related parties to reverse this decision, and urge all to work hard to put the bilateral relationship to a level worthy of allies and friends.
There has always been problems in the Turkish-American relations, and from time to time these problems have escalated into crises, however, the mutual strategic and economic interests have been so large, strong and deep that, even after the most tumultuous times, the bilateral relationship has persevered.
I think that the situation we are in today, which has escalated with reciprocal statements in the press and on social media, can be resolved. The most important thing here is that we get out of this situation before it further strains and permanently damages the bilateral relationship. Lets not forget, in the beginning of the 21st century, we are going through a period where alliances are broken down and new ones are being established. Lasting friendships are very important, we all need each other.
Even though it looks like the bilateral relations might come to a halt if we don't fix the crisis between our two countries immediately, let's be real, this is not a possibility. We are working together on a number of issues, particularly in Syria and NATO. The bilateral economic relations are still healthy.
Without delving into who is right or wrong, I just want to make three points clear:
We should shift our focus to the realities of our relationship rather than the crisis at hand, at least for a while. I believe we should find solutions to the existing problems by keeping the mutual interests in perspective. In this regard for example, the new roadmap for Syria is a win for both Turkey and the US. We should work to speed up the development of this. I think, a step by the US Government recognizing Turkey's security concerns and meeting the Turkish Government's requests regarding the Gulen network's operations in the US, and a mutual show of goodwill by the Turkish Government will have a very positive effect. In this case, I believe it will be much easier for the Turkish public to understand US' demands from Turkey.
Sanctions should not be the way to solve problems among friends and allies. Sanctions have never been the solution, the greatest burden of it always lies on the people of the sanctioned country. Given that one of the most important aspects of the Turkish-American bilateral relations are economy and trade, it should not be forgotten that the Turkish public will face the real burden of the sanctions.
We need realistic and reasonable views rooted in goodwill more than ever. Channels should be kept open, and all should refrain from irreversible discourse. As the business community, we hope the mutual sincerity we've witnessed at the NATO Summit will continue to grow.
As a person who knows President Erdogan and President Trump personally, I think I can understand how they feel regarding the recent problems. I think that they both believe the problems should be resolved and they sincerely want it to be fixed. The two presidents are in fact very alike, both brave and passionate leaders. Both have dealt with status quo, interest groups that see themselves above all and fake perceptions. Both want their country to get stronger and bigger, and both know that such goals can only be achieved through realistic and pragmatic steps.
I believe, our greatest luck in solving this crisis lies in the characters of the two presidents detailed above. We may hear differring voices on both sides, this is normal in politics. But I believe, both leaders will focus on resolving the differences and get there quickly by listening to their reason and conscience.
Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ
Chairman
Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK)
36 TH ANNUAL CONFERANCE ON U.S. TURKEY RELATIONS MAY 21-23, 2017•TRUMPINT'L HOTEL, WASHINGTON DC
The 36TH Annual Conference on U.S. – Turkey Relations will convene hundreds of stakeholders and thought leaders to address key bilateral commercial and diplomatic topics on May 21-23, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
Related Pictures
DEİK/Türkiye-ABD İş Konseyi (TAİK) ve American Turkish Council (ATC) 35. Ortak Yıllık Konferansının 30 Ekim - 1 Kasım 2016 tarihlerinde The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C’de düzenleneceğini bilgilerinize sunarız.
Teması “Geleceği Şekillendirmek: İş, İnovasyon ve Büyüme” (“Shaping the Future: Business, Innovation and Growth”) olarak belirlenen konferansta Türkiye-ABD ilişkilerindeki gelişmeler, üst düzey Türk ve ABD’li özel sektör ve devlet temsilcileri tarafından değerlendirilecek olup; konferansta Savunma ve Güvenlik, Enerji, PPP, Ar-Ge ve İnovasyon, IT, Eğitim, TTIP ve Yatırım Fırsatları panelleri yer alacaktır.
Konferansımıza katılmak isteyen üyelerimiz, http://www.atctaikconference.com adresinden erken kayıt yaptırabilirler.
Bu yıl gerek Türkiye gerekse ABD tarafından çok güçlü üst düzey katılım beklenen konferansa sponsor olmak isteyen üyelerimizin ekli sponsorluk dosyasını inceleyerek tarafımıza ulaşmaları rica olunur.
Saygılarımızla,
Bilgi için:
Murat Can Menteş
İş Konseyi Koordinatör Yardımcısı
E-mail : mmentes@deik.org.tr
Telefon : 0212 339 50 06
DEİK/Türkiye-ABD İş Konseyi (TAİK) ve American Turkish Council (ATC) 35. Ortak Yıllık Konferansının 30 Ekim - 1 Kasım 2016 tarihlerinde The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C'de düzenleneceğini bilgilerinize sunarız.
Teması "Geleceği Şekillendirmek: İş, İnovasyon ve Büyüme" ("Shaping the Future: Business, Innovation and Growth") olarak belirlenen konferansta Türkiye-ABD ilişkilerindeki gelişmeler, üst düzey Türk ve ABD'li özel sektör ve devlet temsilcileri tarafından değerlendirilecek olup; konferansta Savunma ve Güvenlik, Enerji, PPP, Ar-Ge ve İnovasyon, IT, Eğitim, TTIP ve Yatırım Fırsatları panelleri yer alacaktır.
Konferansımıza katılmak isteyen üyelerimiz, http://www.atctaikconference.com adresinden erken kayıt yaptırabilirler.
Bu yıl gerek Türkiye gerekse ABD tarafından çok güçlü üst düzey katılım beklenen konferansa sponsor olmak isteyen üyelerimizin ekli sponsorluk dosyasını inceleyerek tarafımıza ulaşmaları rica olunur.
Saygılarımızla,
Bilgi için:
Murat Can Menteş
İş Konseyi Koordinatör Yardımcısı
E-mail : mmentes@deik.org.tr
Telefon : 0212 339 50 06
DEİK/Türkiye-ABD İş Konseyi (TAİK) ve Başbakanlık Türkiye Yatırım Destek ve Tanıtım Ajansı (TYDTA) tarafından, 30 Mart 2016 tarihinde Washington D.C.’de, T.C. Cumhurbaşkanı Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan onuruna, Amerika’nın önde gelen şirketlerinin Yönetim Kurulu Başkanları ve CEO’larının katılımlarıyla bir yuvarlak masa toplantısı ve 500 kişinin katılımlarıyla bir Gala Yemeği düzenlenmiştir.
Gerçekleştirilen etkinliklere ilişkin sonuç raporu ekte bilgilerinize sunulmaktadır.
DEİK/Türkiye-ABD İş Konseyi (TAİK) tarafından, Goldman Sachs işbirliğinde 7.'si düzenlenen "Türkiye Yatırım Konferansı" 29 Eylül 2015 tarihinde, New York'ta gerçekleştirilecektir.
Ayrıntılı bilgi için:
Murat Can Menteş
İş Konseyi Koordinatör Yardımcısı
E-mail : mmentes@deik.org.tr
Telefon : 0212 339 50 06
İstanbul İhracatçı Birlikleri tarafından iletildiği üzere; Ekonomi Bakanlığı koordinasyonunda, Gemi ve Yat İhracatçıları Birliği tarafından, 3-7 Mayıs 2015 tarihleri arasında ABD’nin Houston şehrine yönelik bir sektörel ticaret heyet ziyareti organize edilecektir.
4-7 Mayıs 2015 tarihleri arasında düzenlenecek Houston Offshore Teknoloji Konferansı ve Fuarı ile eş zamanlı gerçekleştirilmesi planlanan ziyaret, ülkemiz gemicilik sektörünün ABD’de tanıtılmasını amaçlamaktadır. Ticaret heyeti programı kapsamında, iki ülke işbirliği olanakları hakkında bir seminer verilmesi, katılımcı işadamları arasında ikili iş görüşmeleri yapılması, ilgili kurum ve kuruluşların (odalar, dernekler) ziyaret edilmesi planlanmaktadır.
Söz konusu ticaret heyeti programının gerek ABD pazarına girmek isteyen, gerekse uluslararası alıcılar ile bir araya gelmeyi amaçlayan firmalarımız için önemli bir fırsat sunacağı düşünülmektedir.
Ticaret heyeti programına katılım koşulları hakkında detaylı bilgi ekte yer almakta olup; heyete katılmak isteyen üyelerimizin bu koşulları sağlamak suretiyle, ekli kayıt formunu en geç 18 Aralık 2014 Perşembe günü mesai bitimine kadar, İstanbul İhracatçılar Birliği Genel Sekreterliği’ne (Faks: 0212 454 05 01-02, E-mail: fuar@iib.org.tr) iletmeleri rica olunur.
ABD İstanbul Başkonsolosluğu tarafından iletildiği üzere; SelectUSA Yatırım Zirvesi ABD Ticaret Bakanlığı ev sahipliğinde, 23-24 Mart 2015 tarihlerinde, Washington D.C.’de gerçekleştirilecektir. Zirve kapsamında ABD hükümetinin üst düzey yetkilileri ve dünyaca tanınan iş dünyası temsilcileri tarafından günümüz ekonomik eğilimleri değerlendirilecektir. ABD’de iş yapma konusunda faydalı bilgilerin sunulacağı Zirve’de, ABD’de yatırım yapmak için gerekli kaynaklar ve teşvikler hakkında detaylı sunumlar yapılacaktır.
SelectUSA Yatırım Zirvesi’ni kamuoyuna duyuran ABD Ticaret Bakanı Penny Pritzker tarafından ABD’nin gelişmiş teknolojisi, sahip olduğu kaynaklar, geniş iç pazarı, kalifiye iş gücü, start-uplardan çok uluslu şirketlere kadar her düzeyde yabancı yatırıma açık oluşu ve geniş bir pazar ağına kolaylıkla ulaşabilmesine dikkat çekilmiş olup; Zirve’nin bu imkanlardan yararlanmak üzere yol gösterici nitelikte olacağı ifade edilmiştir.
ABD’de yatırım yapma konusunu değerlendiren firmalara yönelik kısıtlı kontenjana sahip söz konusu Zirve’ye katılmakla ilgilenen üyelerimizin http://www.selectusasummit.com/index.php/registration adresinden kayıt yaptırmaları gerekmektedir.
Zirve hakkında detaylı bilgiye http://www.selectusasummit.com adresinden, resmi basın açıklamasına ise SelectUSA 2015 Investment Summit Press Release adresinden ulaşılabilir.
33. ATC-TAİK Yıllık Konferansı, 1-4 Haziran 2014 tarihleri arasında Ritz Carlton Hotel, Washington D.C.'de gerçekleştirilecektir.
Söz konusu etkinliğe katılmakla ilgilenen kişilerin https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1372920-k6uo4jJH3f internet adresinde bulunan katılım formunu doldurmaları rica olunur.
