Trilateral financing agreement between France, Türkiye and the World Bank

France's National Day was celebrated with a reception hosted at the French Embassy in Ankara.

The reception, hosted by the French Ambassador to Türkiye, Isabelle Dumont, brought together numerous distinguished guests, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance Osman Çelik, Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, as well as heads of foreign diplomatic missions.

In her address, Ambassador Isabelle Dumont highlighted the longstanding ties between France and Türkiye, the strength of bilateral economic cooperation, and the importance of continued dialogue following the NATO Summit.

"The NATO Summit once again demonstrated the importance of our Alliance"

Referring to the NATO Summit held in Ankara the previous week, Ambassador Dumont stressed that it had delivered crucial messages on international security. She congratulated the Turkish authorities on the successful organization of the summit, stating:

"I am delighted to be with you again after what has been an exceptionally busy period for many of us following last week's NATO Summit in Ankara. The summit once again demonstrated the importance of our Alliance in addressing today's security challenges. I would like to warmly congratulate the Turkish authorities, and especially our fellow diplomats, for the outstanding organization of this event."

The Ambassador also noted that this year's Bastille Day celebrations in Paris had emphasized security and international solidarity. She pointed out that the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, reaffirmed the international community's commitment to multilateralism.

"France is working to build an ambitious partnership with Türkiye"

Highlighting Türkiye's strategic regional and global role, Ambassador Dumont declared:

"Whether we are addressing threats to our security or responding to the consequences of climate change, everyone here understands how important Türkiye is to its partners—and how important its partners are to Türkiye. The COP31 conference, which will take place in Antalya just a few months after the NATO Summit, is the clearest illustration of this. Guided by this vision, France is committed to building an ambitious partnership with Türkiye."

She recalled that relations between France and Türkiye are rooted in nearly five centuries of shared history, strengthened through culture, the arts, language, and gastronomy.

"Presidents Macron and Erdoğan met on the sidelines of the NATO Summit"

Ambassador Dumont also emphasized the intensity of political dialogue between Paris and Ankara:

"Presidents Macron and Erdoğan met on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. We also had the opportunity to welcome our Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to Ankara in January, followed two weeks ago by the Minister Delegate attached to the Minister for the Armed Forces. Our relationship is deeply rooted, and our dialogue remains exceptionally active."

"Bilateral trade has reached €24 billion"

The Ambassador underlined the continued strengthening of economic relations between the two countries:

"Trade between France and Türkiye reached nearly €24 billion in 2025, setting a new record and making Türkiye our fifth-largest trading partner outside the European Union. French companies operating in Türkiye employ approximately 400,000 people and account for around 1.6% of the country's GDP. With an additional €5 billion in planned investments by 2027, France's economic presence in Türkiye will continue to grow."

She also pointed to technology as an emerging pillar of bilateral cooperation and welcomed the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır at the VivaTech exhibition in Paris.

"We have signed a new €400 million co-financing agreement with AFD"

Ambassador Dumont reaffirmed France's commitment to development projects in Türkiye through the French Development Agency (AFD), notably mentioning the construction of 3,000 homes in the earthquake-affected region.

She announced:

"I am particularly pleased to inform you that, in the presence of Deputy Minister Osman Çelik, we have just signed a new €400 million co-financing agreement with the World Bank, including €150 million financed by the French Development Agency. AFD will continue working alongside the Turkish authorities, particularly on projects related to natural resource management and climate change adaptation."

"Long live France, long live Türkiye, long live French-Turkish friendship"

Ambassador Dumont stressed that Franco-Turkish relations extend far beyond official visits and trade figures, resting above all on the strong human ties nurtured every day by the Embassy's teams.

Concluding her speech, she recalled the founding principles of the French Revolution—Liberty, Equality and Fraternity—and declared:

"In these challenging times, this Bastille Day serves as a call to rally around the European and universal values that form the foundation of our republics. France stands ready, as it always has, to defend these values."

She ended her address by saying: "Long live France. Long live Türkiye. Long live French-Turkish friendship."

"We aim to strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and France in every field"

Speaking after Ambassador Dumont, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay extended, on behalf of the Government and the people of Türkiye, his congratulations to France on its National Day.

He recalled that diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to 1483, and noted that despite occasional challenges, bilateral ties have remained uninterrupted for centuries.

According to Bozay, the regular exchanges between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Emmanuel Macron have made a significant contribution to bilateral relations:

"The mutual respect, regular contacts and sincere dialogue between our Presidents add considerable value to our relationship and further strengthen our cooperation. Building on this political will, we aim to deepen cooperation between Türkiye and France across every sector and on every continent."

A target of $30 billion in bilateral trade by 2030

Bozay emphasized that economic relations remain one of the cornerstones of the bilateral partnership.

He noted that bilateral trade reached $24 billion in 2025, adding that both countries aim to increase this figure to $30 billion by 2030.

He also highlighted that France is Türkiye's third-largest trading partner within the European Union, and expressed confidence that the 8th Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting held in February had given fresh momentum to bilateral economic cooperation.

"Closer dialogue between Türkiye and France is more important than ever"

Bozay pointed out that nearly 800,000 Turkish citizens living in France serve as a powerful bridge between the two nations.

Referring to the NATO Summit held in Ankara the previous week and to today's global security challenges—including the war in Ukraine and the crises in the Middle East—he stated:

"We firmly believe that closer dialogue and coordination between Türkiye and France are more important than ever. The steps we take together to address our shared challenges will bring our countries even closer together as partners and friends."

"Türkiye is a central power in European security"

Bozay also underscored the strategic importance of Türkiye's defence industry:

"Türkiye's defence industry has not only achieved self-sufficiency, but has also become a reliable supplier for NATO Allies and European Union member states. With its strong and agile institutions, Türkiye is a central power in ensuring Europe's security."

He further argued that a renewed approach to Türkiye-European Union relations is no longer a matter of choice but of necessity, expressing the expectation that France will make a tangible contribution to Türkiye's EU accession process and to advancing a positive agenda in EU-Türkiye relations.

Concluding his remarks, Bozay thanked Ambassador Isabelle Dumont for hosting the reception and expressed his hope that the friendship and partnership between Türkiye and France would continue to deepen across all fields, before once again extending his congratulations to France on the occasion of its National Day.

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Source : Manşet, July 15, 2026. Article translated by Advantis Conseils Turquie.