Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot has stressed Türkiye’s role in Europe’s security architecture and expressed willingness to deepen economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“There is no possibility to discuss any European security architecture without Türkiye in it,” Prevot told Anadolu on Thursday.
Over the years, he said Türkiye has reduced the poverty rate and improved living standards, and it is now “more than ever” a strategic geopolitical actor.
Prevot pointed to the longstanding partnership between Belgium and Türkiye, recalling the first friendship treaty signed with the Ottoman Empire in 1838. He pointed out that Belgium was represented at the Sultan’s court in Istanbul long before many European countries.
Economic Mission
Prevot stressed the significance of the country’s upcoming Economic Mission to Türkiye, presided over by Belgian Queen Mathilde, which is set to take place between May 10-14.
Prevot described the mission as a good opportunity to reinforce a partnership on its business, academic and institutional dimensions.
An estimated 400 people will be coming to Türkiye with the mission, he said.
“We’re really intent on enhancing the level of our trade cooperation. That’s one of the first objectives,” he added.
He said that they will sign around 40 agreements on social security, transport, port management, logistics and aerospace and defence.
“Türkiye is the fifth largest export market for Belgium outside the European Union. So it means a lot,” Prevot added.
Related
He stressed the need for more investments from Turkish companies in Belgium, as well as identifying opportunities, particularly in the biopharmaceutical sector.
“Talking about the defence sector, we know that in the last decade Türkiye has grown by 300 percent. So that’s really important,” Prevot said.
He also underlined the need to create new opportunities for the dredging sector, energy transition, offshore industry and digital assets.
