Erdogan Visits New York for 81st UN General Assembly

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan departed Istanbul for New York on September 20, 2026, to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, September 22, during the opening day of the high-level general debate. His speech is expected to focus on the conflict in Gaza, the recognition of a Palestinian state, and the necessity of reforming the UN Security Council.

During the four-day visit, Erdogan will hold bilateral meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and various heads of state. A key meeting is scheduled with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss energy cooperation, the procurement of F-35 fighter jets, and the removal of CAATSA sanctions. Erdogan is also slated to participate in a high-level event on climate action on September 23.

Beyond diplomatic summits, the Turkish president plans to meet with Turkish-American business circles, think tanks, and representatives of Turkish citizens living in the United States. He is accompanied by a delegation that includes several cabinet ministers and intelligence head İbrahim Kalın.