What is on Erdoğan’s New York agenda?
As the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly approaches, the main elements of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s diplomatic program in New York are beginning to emerge.
The UN General Assembly general debate will begin on September 22. Erdoğan is expected to address the international community from the UN General Assembly podium on the first day of the general debate.
As of September 19, the Presidency had not yet made Erdoğan’s detailed, hour-by-hour schedule for his New York visit public. Therefore, the exact dates and times for his arrival and departure from New York, as well as most meetings and bilateral talks that may take place at Türkevi, remain unknown.
Erdoğan’s program known so far
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Tuesday, September 22 | 81st UN General Assembly general debate | Erdoğan is expected to speak |
Tuesday, September 22 | UN General Assembly address | Fourth speaker according to the provisional order |
September 22–28 | Erdoğan–Trump meeting | Meeting expected; time and venue not announced |
September 22–28 | Bilateral meetings with other leaders | Program not yet announced |
Return | Departure from New York | Date and time not announced |
September 22 is the key date
For Erdoğan, the clearest date in the visit so far is Tuesday, September 22.
President Erdoğan is expected to speak on the first day of the UN General Assembly general debate. According to the preliminary schedule, Erdoğan is expected to be the fourth speaker.
However, the exact time Erdoğan will take the podium is not yet known because the order of speakers may be affected by protocol and schedule changes.
Erdoğan is expected to focus in his address on regional crises, Gaza, Syria, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Black Sea, Türkiye-U.S. relations, global security, and reform of the United Nations system.
What to follow on September 22
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Event | 81st UN General Assembly general debate |
Date | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
Location | United Nations Headquarters, New York |
Hall | General Assembly Hall |
Address | 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 |
Erdoğan’s position | Fourth speaker according to the provisional program |
Exact speaking time | Not yet announced |
Erdoğan–Trump meeting will be closely watched
One of the most notable developments of New York week for Türkiye is expected to be the planned meeting between President Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reports citing U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack said the two leaders are expected to meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
However, as of September 19, the day and time of the meeting and its venue had not been made public.
The detailed UNGA meeting schedule made public by the U.S. side also does not yet include a specific time for Erdoğan.
What issues could be discussed at the Erdoğan–Trump meeting?
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Türkiye–U.S. relations | Political and diplomatic relations between the two countries |
Defense | F-35, F-16 and defense industry issues |
Syria | Regional security and developments in Syria |
Gaza | War and regional diplomacy |
Iran | Regional security balances |
Trade | Türkiye-U.S. economic relations |
Turkish Airlines–Boeing | Whether it will be discussed will be closely watched |
Aircraft talks between Turkish Airlines and Boeing are also among the economically significant issues of New York week. In a September 15 report, Reuters said Boeing was close to finalizing the process for an order covering 150 737 MAX aircraft from Turkish Airlines.
However, there has been no announcement that the aircraft agreement will be signed during the Erdoğan–Trump meeting.
Türkevi could become a center of diplomatic activity
Türkevi will be one of the closely watched locations during Erdoğan’s and the Turkish delegation’s activity in New York.
Located directly across from the United Nations Headquarters, Türkevi is one of the key centers of Türkiye’s diplomatic activities in New York.
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UN Headquarters | 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 | General Assembly and UN meetings |
General Assembly Hall | UN Headquarters | Erdoğan’s address on September 22 |
Türkevi Center | 821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 | Bilateral meetings and contacts involving the Turkish delegation |
As of September 19, no meeting schedule with an announced date and time for Erdoğan’s participation had been released for Türkevi.
Nevertheless, meetings at Türkevi involving leaders, ministers, the business community and the Turkish-American community will be closely followed throughout the visit.
Ministers’ schedules will also be important
The full list of the official delegation accompanying Erdoğan on his New York visit has also not yet been made public.
The diplomatic contacts of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in New York are particularly significant. The Russia-Ukraine war, secure grain transit in the Black Sea, Gaza, Syria, Iran and relations with the United States are among the issues to be followed in Fidan’s possible meetings.
It also remains unclear which ministers from Türkiye will be part of the New York delegation for economic, trade and energy matters.
Busy UN schedule from September 23 to 29
Although Erdoğan’s participation has not been announced, a series of high-level meetings that the Turkish delegation can follow will be held at UN Headquarters.
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September 23 | Right to Development | Development and global inequality |
September 23 | Climate Action and Just Transition | Climate and energy transition |
September 24 | Sea-Level Rise | Climate and coastal policies |
September 25 | Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response | Health diplomacy |
September 28 | Durban Declaration meeting | Racism and xenophobia |
September 29 | Meeting on the complete elimination of nuclear weapons | Security and disarmament |
Although these meetings are included in the UN calendar, Erdoğan’s or a specific Turkish minister’s participation has not yet been announced.
Attention turns to new schedule announcements from New York
The clearest part of President Erdoğan’s New York visit at this stage is his UN General Assembly address on September 22.
The Erdoğan–Trump meeting is expected to be one of the visit’s most important diplomatic items, but the day, time and venue of the meeting are still awaited.
Announcements expected in the coming days from the Presidency, the Foreign Ministry and the U.S. side are expected to clarify Erdoğan’s meetings with other leaders, Türkevi engagements, meetings with the Turkish-American community and business programs.
