Turkish President Erdoğan welcomes Uzbekistan's Mirziyoyev to Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formally welcomed his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to Ankara on Thursday, initiating a significant state visit. President Erdoğan, accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, greeted the Uzbek leader at Esenboğa International Airport with full state honors.

Ceremonial Welcome and Symbolic Gestures

The welcoming ceremony included an inspection of the honor guard and a commemorative photo. In a symbolic gesture marking the 103rd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, President Mirziyoyev’s motorcade was escorted by 103 cavalry units to the Presidential Complex. There, both leaders stood for the national anthems performed by a military band, underscoring the mutual respect and fraternal bond between the two nations.

Agenda for Strategic Cooperation

Following the initial ceremonies, the leaders proceeded to the Presidential Complex for substantive talks. The agenda featured bilateral and delegation-level meetings, culminating in the Fourth Meeting of the Türkiye–Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The meetings are expected to result in the signing of new agreements across various fields of cooperation, further solidifying the strategic partnership. A joint press conference is scheduled to conclude the official program.

Deepening Ties within the Turkic World

The high-profile visit is a testament to the rapidly growing relationship between Türkiye and Uzbekistan. It aligns with Ankara's broader foreign policy objective of strengthening unity and cooperation within the Turkic world through enhanced political dialogue, economic integration, and cultural exchange. Such summits are pivotal for advancing shared interests and increasing the collective influence of Turkic states on the regional and global stage.