# Erdogan touts Trump relationship as he pushes for bigger Turkish role in defense trade and U.S. cooperation

*Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 6:11 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-22T06:11:28.140Z (3h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/18522.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he believes Turkey will soon be among the world’s top 10 defense‑industry exporters and stresses his close relationship with President Trump as he calls for deeper cooperation with the United States across defense, energy and technology.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is setting out an expansive vision for Turkey’s defense industry and its ties with the United States, tying that agenda to what he describes as a close personal relationship with President Donald Trump.

Erdogan says he believes that very soon Turkey will be among the world’s top 10 countries in defense‑industry exports. He presents this goal alongside a broader push to deepen cooperation with the United States in several fields.

On the economic and technological side, Erdogan says Turkey is ready to advance cooperation with the United States in nuclear energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG), civil aviation and high technology. He describes the further development of the defense industry as traditionally one of the strongest areas of the U.S.–Turkish partnership and calls this development essential, both bilaterally and within NATO. He also says he wants to leave behind obstacles in the relationship that, in his view, should never have existed.

Erdogan links this agenda to his contacts with Trump. He refers to Trump as “my dear friend” and says that, thanks to what he calls sincere and exceptional dialogue, the two leaders have made, and continue to make, significant progress in every area of relations. He points to his meeting with Trump in Washington last year and to Trump’s visit to Ankara in July, saying that visit confirmed and strengthened deep‑rooted alliance ties.

Erdogan also frames regional instability as a reason for closer coordination. He argues that the conflicts, wars and crises in the region and around the world require Türkiye and the United States to stay in close dialogue. He says that, thanks to this dialogue and coordination, the two countries are achieving positive results on many issues with global effects, particularly in the Middle East but also in other regions.

For Turkey’s defense firms and workers, Erdogan’s top‑10 export goal signals a drive to expand existing lines and their role in international markets. For the United States and other NATO allies, his emphasis on defense and energy cooperation, and on personal ties with Trump, is a reminder that Ankara wants recognition as a significant security and technology partner.

Concrete indicators to watch will be any new defense‑export figures, announcements of joint production or technology projects with U.S. firms, and shifts in how Ankara and Washington handle disputes inside NATO and in nearby conflict zones as Erdogan seeks to turn his rhetoric into practical gains.