Portrait of Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Georgia

Strategic partner advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly views Turkey and Georgia as strategic partners committed to deep cooperation for regional peace and development.

Key Points

  • He reaffirmed Turkey's unshakeable support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty in August 2025.

  • He noted that Turkish companies operate in Georgia, with trade volume surpassing $3 billion and a new target of $5 billion set.

  • He underscored that trilateral mechanisms involving Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan contribute to regional peace and security.

  • He stressed the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, calling it the "backbone of the Middle Corridor."

Summary

Recep Tayyip Erdogan consistently characterizes the relationship with Georgia as a strategic partnership, emphasizing deep historical, cultural, and human ties that go beyond mere neighborly relations. He affirms Turkey's unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, often highlighting this shared commitment during meetings with his Georgian counterpart. A key element of this positive stance is the robust economic dimension, where he points to Turkey's consistent position as Georgia's largest trade partner and mutual interest in major infrastructure projects.

His position also involves actively promoting regional stability through joint mechanisms, particularly the trilateral format involving Azerbaijan, which he credits with contributing to regional peace and security. The President underscores the importance of cooperation in areas like transport and logistics, stressing the need for the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to operate at full capacity as the "backbone of the Middle Corridor." Furthermore, he consistently reaffirms Turkey's commitment to assisting in the dignified and safe return of Meskhetian Turks to their homeland, showing a consistent focus on shared historical concerns.

Key Quotes

“We are two countries participating in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, which is the backbone of the Middle Corridor, and we have strategically important oil and gas pipelines. Our country has been Georgia's largest trading partner for years, which is yet another confirmation that our relationship rests on solid foundations.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers Georgia a key strategic partner, frequently emphasizing their deep historical and cultural ties. His position is overwhelmingly positive, focusing on expanding cooperation across economic, security, and regional stability fronts. He views the relationship as foundational for regional development.

Based on recent public statements, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not indicated any shift in his position towards Georgia; he continues to strongly advocate for deepening the existing strategic partnership. His consistent dialogue with Georgian leadership reaffirms ongoing commitments to bilateral and regional projects.

The President frequently highlights strong economic ties, noting Turkey's status as Georgia's largest trading partner and major investor. Additionally, he emphasizes cooperation on regional peace, particularly through trilateral mechanisms, and Turkey's continued support for the safe repatriation of Meskhetian Turks.

Sources8

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.