Fresh Take: Two Allies Together, Forging Ahead
Venezuela and Turkey Reinforce Mutual Relations, Stand United with Palestine
May 25, 2024 (Our Source) - In a strategic move, Venezuela and Turkey have cemented their partnership by signing nine cooperation agreements, with a vision to bolster their joint initiatives across a broad spectrum of sectors.
Following the 4th meeting of the Turkey-Venezuela Joint Cooperation Commission, held in Ankara from May 21-23, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil shared the goal of these agreements - to boost collaborative efforts in agriculture, health and medical sciences, tourism, education, aviation, trade, petrochemicals, energy, and economy.
During a press conference alongside his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Gil emphasized the strong bond between the leaders, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Nicolás Maduro's relationship as one built on solidarity, honesty, and complementarity. Venezuela is a reliable companion for Turkey in Latin America, Gil added, and the countries continue to progress in this relationship.
One significant move announced by Gil was the arrangement of the second Turkish Export Products Fair in Venezuela, scheduled for September 26-28. This event aims to amplify trade volumes from the recorded $800 million in 2023 to an estimated $3 billion by the end of 2024.
Moreover, Gil discussed the creation of a Joint Chamber of Commerce and a plan to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Venezuela. SEZs are regions under exceptional regulations, designed to support targeted economic activities - from industry to tourism. Prioritizing imports, exports, or technological development, these zones seek to stimulate growth.
In the latest round of negotiations, the parties pledged to collaborate on human rights issues, scholarships and educational programs, biotechnology, renewable energies, artificial intelligence, and cultural exchange, by producing theater plays, movies, and TV series together. Follow-ups on the established agreements and the fifth Joint Cooperation Commission meeting in Venezuela in 2026 are on the horizon.
Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister, further emphasized Turkey's commitment to opposing unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, while deepening bilateral ties. "Our relationship with Venezuela is central to our engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean," Fidan stressed.
Fidan and Gil also urged diplomatic efforts to achieve international recognition of the Palestinian state, expressing concern over the ongoing genocide in Gaza and offering their countries' unwavering support for the Palestinian people. Both parties have been staunch opponents of Israel's actions.
Venezuela and Turkey have maintained diplomatic relations for 73 years, but their political and economic alliance flourished under the Hugo Chávez (1999-2013) and Nicolás Maduro governments. Recent years have seen a significant increase in trade and cooperation efforts as Caracas has relied on partners to bypass U.S. sanctions.
On May 13, President Maduro signed the "Law Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments" to facilitate economic integration and cooperation between Venezuela and Turkey. The agreement sets the stage for a higher level of relations and investments, Maduro stated, during his weekly podcast.
- Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil stated that the recently signed cooperation agreements with Turkey aim to establish a Joint Chamber of Commerce and to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Venezuela, emphasizing the complementarity between the two countries' economies.
- In contrast to the focus on economic and trade partnerships, Gil and Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan also produced a plan in their latest negotiations to collaborate on multiple general-news topics, including human rights issues, scholarships and educational programs, biotechnology, renewable energies, artificial intelligence, and cultural exchange.
- During the Ankara meeting, Gil and Fidan agreed to oppose unilateral sanctions against Venezuela and called for diplomatic efforts to achieve international recognition of the Palestinian state, highlighting the two nations' shared political stance, particularly their opposition to Israel's actions.
