Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Liberian counterpart, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, have discussed bilateral ties and regional issues during talks in Istanbul with the former pledging defense and security assistance to the West African nation.
The two leaders met on Friday at the Vahdettin Pavilion before holding bilateral discussions.
Türkiye’s Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran and Erdogan’s chief foreign policy and security adviser, Akif Cagatay Kilic, also attended the talks with the West African leader.
According to a statement from Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, Erdogan said it would be “beneficial for us to continue taking steps to evaluate the trade volume potential of the two countries.”
He added that Türkiye would work to strengthen cooperation with Liberia in areas including the defence industry, security, education and transportation.
Erdogan also congratulated Boakai on Liberia’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council
Speaking upon his arrival, President Boakai highlighted the outcomes of his visit to Türkiye, noting that the engagements were geared toward attracting investment, expanding educational opportunities, and deepening diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
He revealed that discussions included the establishment of a Turkish Consulate in Liberia and a Liberian diplomatic mission in Türkiye, alongside efforts to increase investment and secure scholarship opportunities for Liberians.
He described the proposed diplomatic presence as an important step toward enhancing bilateral ties and creating greater opportunities for economic growth and cooperation between Liberia and Türkiye.
