Published January 08,2026

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Turkish first lady Emine Erdoğan on Thursday received Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), at the presidential state guesthouse in Ankara.

“I was pleased to meet with Philippe Lazzarini, (UNRWA) Commissioner-General. I hope that the work carried out with great dedication for the Palestinian people will lead to concrete and lasting results that end their suffering,” Erdoğan wrote the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

Lazzarini, in turn, expressed his gratitude, highlighting the first lady’s leadership role on the issue of Palestine.

Ambassador Mehmet Güllüoğlu, Türkiye’s coordinator for humanitarian aid to Palestine, was also present at the meeting.

Published January 07,2026

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Türkiye will continue to assess the joint steps it can take with Malaysia in the defense industry field, “guided by the win-win principle,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.

Erdoğan’s remarks came during a joint news conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Noting his visit to Kuala Lumpur in February last year, where both parties agreed to hold a high-level cooperation meeting between the two countries, Erdoğan said that the first meeting was held on Wednesday.

He also expressed his desire for Malaysia to increase its investment in Türkiye.

The meeting also addressed the human dimension between the two nations, including education and culture, which “will strengthen the ties” between the two nations, Erdoğan said.

He noted that global issues were also discussed, adding that Ankara and Kuala Lumpur are sharing similar views on those issues.

“Especially, we will continue to closely follow Gaza,” Erdoğan said.

Türkiye gives importance to its cooperation with regional countries and ASEAN under Ankara’s Asia Anew Initiative, which was launched in 2019, the president also said.

He also praised Anwar for his contribution to de-escalating tension between Thailand and Cambodia.

Published January 07,2026

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday hailed the “capacity and strength” of Türkiye’s industry, science, and technology during a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

Lauding Ankara-Kuala Lumpur ties, Anwar said: “It’s not many countries that we have these relations.

“It’s only through trust, affection, and belief in your capability and strength and the capacity of the Turkish people and industry in science and technology, to be able to propel and showcase to the world of your own ability.”

Anwar expressed his belief that the aim of $10 billion trade volume between Türkiye and Malaysia is not “ambitious at all.”

“You (Türkiye) have a great economy, and we (Malaysia), of course, relatively smaller, but then growing at a very fast pace. We have now become the main attraction for semiconductors, AI, data centers, and new technology, new areas such as rare earth,” he said.

Anwar thanked Erdoğan for his “courageous leadership,” not only to Türkiye, “but also to the world at large, and particularly the Muslim world.”

“We need a voice of conscience. We need leadership. The world of politics is facing a deficit in terms of moral and ethical values,” Anwar said.

Anwar is paying an official visit to Türkiye from Jan. 6 to 8 at the invitation of Erdoğan.

Published January 07,2026

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Chief Foreign Policy and Security Adviser Akif Çağatay Kılıç attended on Wednesday a meeting of national security advisors of the “Coalition of the Willing” for Ukraine.

The meeting, attended by national security advisors from the countries of the coalition and a delegation from the NATO secretary general’s office, included comprehensive consultations on current developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and ways to achieve a lasting peace and resolution.

Kılıç stated at the meeting that Türkiye aims for the Russia-Ukraine war to end as soon as possible with a just, lasting, and inclusive peace agreement.

Ankara will continue its diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian responsibilities with determination, he stressed.

Following the meeting, Kılıç also met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and other officials.