Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Wednesday to discuss expanding economic collaboration and regional strategic cooperation, the Turkish Finance Ministry has said.

Turkish Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan also attended the meeting and took place in what officials described as a “constructive atmosphere.” Both delegations reaffirmed the shared political will of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump to advance multidimensional relations between the two NATO allies.

Focus on trade, investment, and energy
Talks centered on enhancing cooperation across key sectors such as investment, trade, transportation, and energy. Simsek specifically underscored the importance of lifting current restrictions that hinder bilateral cooperation in the defence industry — a sensitive but crucial area in deepening ties.

The Turkish delegation also presented details of Türkiye’s ongoing economic stabilisation efforts. Minister Simsek reiterated Ankara’s commitment to “prudent and sustainable macroeconomic policies,” as outlined during recent international forums, including the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.
Beyond economics, both sides discussed pressing regional issues. Turkish officials stressed the need to lift sanctions on Syria and outlined Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic efforts toward achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Aiming for $100B trade goal
The talks came amid an upward trend in Türkiye-US economic relations, with both governments maintaining their commitment to boosting bilateral trade to a target of $100 billion — a figure emphasised in recent diplomatic exchanges.
Analysts expect follow-up technical meetings in the coming months to advance specific initiatives discussed during the Washington visit. As Türkiye continues to reposition itself as a regional economic and strategic actor, enhanced cooperation with Washington may prove pivotal.