On Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan held talks to discuss various issues of mutual interest. Among the topics on the agenda was the possibility of increasing Kazakh oil exports to Turkey.
The meeting, which took place in the Turkish capital Ankara, was a testament to the strong and growing relationship between the two countries. President Erdoğan welcomed President Tokayev and his delegation, expressing his gratitude for their visit and reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to strengthening ties with Kazakhstan.
During their talks, the two leaders discussed the current state of bilateral trade between Turkey and Kazakhstan, with a particular focus on the energy sector. President Erdoğan expressed his interest in increasing the import of Kazakh oil, which currently stands at around 5 million tons per year. He emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources and reducing dependency on a single supplier, and saw Kazakhstan as a reliable and strategic partner in this regard.
President Tokayev, for his part, welcomed Turkey’s interest in Kazakh oil and expressed his willingness to explore ways to increase exports. He highlighted Kazakhstan’s vast oil reserves, which are estimated to be the ninth largest in the world, and its potential to become a major energy supplier for Turkey and the wider region.
The talks also touched upon the ongoing construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which will transport natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe. President Erdoğan praised Kazakhstan’s participation in the project as a shareholder, and expressed his hope that the country would also become a gas supplier in the future.
In addition to energy cooperation, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance economic ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan. They emphasized the need to increase trade volume, which currently stands at around $3 billion, and to explore new areas of cooperation such as agriculture, tourism, and construction.
President Erdoğan also commended Kazakhstan’s efforts in promoting regional stability and security, and expressed Turkey’s support for the country’s initiatives in this regard. He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to the Astana Process, a peace initiative led by Turkey, Russia, and Iran to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
The talks between President Erdoğan and President Tokayev were not only focused on bilateral issues, but also touched upon regional and international developments. They exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq, and reiterated their commitment to working together to find peaceful solutions to these conflicts.
The meeting between the two leaders was a reflection of the strong and growing ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan. It highlighted the mutual trust and understanding that exists between the two countries, and their shared commitment to further enhance their cooperation in various fields.
As the talks concluded, President Erdoğan and President Tokayev expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes of the meeting and their determination to continue working closely together to achieve their shared goals. The discussions about increasing Kazakh oil exports to Turkey were just one aspect of the fruitful discussions that took place, and serve as a testament to the bright future of the Turkey-Kazakhstan relationship.