TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he reached a mutual understanding with United States President Donald Trump on the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of a two-state solution to bring lasting peace to Palestine.
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight home from Washington, Erdogan described Thursday’s meeting at the White House as "very important" in reaffirming the shared will to end what he called "massacres in Gaza".
“Our meeting was very important in terms of putting forth the will to end the massacres in Gaza. Mr Trump stated during the meeting the need to end fighting in Gaza and reach lasting peace,” Erdogan was quoted as saying in an official transcript released on Friday.
“We explained how a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza and the whole of Palestine, and lasting peace afterwards. An understanding was reached there,” he added. “We said that the two-state solution was the formula for lasting peace in the region, that the current situation cannot continue.”
The Turkish president also welcomed the international presence of Syria’s new leadership, stating that the participation of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the United Nations General Assembly was significant for legitimising the new government globally.
On bilateral ties, Erdogan said the meeting with Trump yielded "meaningful progress" on a number of strategic fronts, including defence and trade.
“It’s certainly impossible to resolve every issue in a single meeting. However, this meeting has led to meaningful progress on many issues,” he said.
Erdogan noted that both countries were keen to revise customs duties and take further steps toward achieving their joint trade target of US$100 billion.
“We are leaving Washington happy,” he said. “The relationship is advancing with mutual respect.”
The meeting marks a thaw in recent tensions between Ankara and Washington, as both nations look to strengthen cooperation amid ongoing regional instability and global economic uncertainty. - September 26, 2025
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