Belgium%E2%80%93Turkey_relations
Belgium–Turkey relations
Foreign relations between Turkiye and Belgium
Belgian–Turkish relations are foreign relations between Belgium and Turkey. Belgium has an embassy in Ankara, a consulate–general in Istanbul and two consulates in Antalya and İzmir.[1] Turkey has an embassy in Brussels and a consulate–general in Antwerp.
Relations between the two countries started in 1837 with the recognition of independent Belgium by the Ottoman Empire. Diplomatic relations were established in 1838.[2]
Belgium and Turkey are both members of the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Union for the Mediterranean. Also Belgium is a European Union member and Turkey is a candidate.
The approximately 230,000 Turkish citizens living in Belgium constitute an important aspect in Turkey's relations with Belgium.[3][4] They come predominantly from the Emirdağ district, located in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
In March 2019, the Turkish foreign ministry summoned the Belgian ambassador, Michel Malherbe, and relayed Turkey's unease after a Belgian court blocked the prosecution of some 30 people with alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).[5]
Belgium condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria and called on Turkey to halt it immediately.[6] The Belgian government later decided to implement an arms embargo against Turkey.[7]
Trade volume between Turkey and Belgium has increased remarkably over the years and reached $ 6.886 billion in 2017.[8] In 2017, Belgian exports to Turkey were $ 3.729 billion, whereas Turkish exports to Belgium were $ 3.127 billion.[8] Belgium is the seventeenth largest trade partner of Turkey.[9]
The Turkish–Belgian Business Council, and organisations with similar aims, give priority to promoting commercial linkages. This council was established in 1990.[10]
There are more than 200 Belgian firms operating in Turkey. The value of Belgian investments in Turkey is around $ 320 million. On the other hand, the investment of Turkish companies in Belgium has exceeded $ 8 billion.[8]
In 2017, 419,998 Belgian tourists visited Turkey.[8]
![[icon]](./File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2009) |
| Guest | Host | Place of visit | Date of visit | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister Abdullah Gül | Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt | Brussels | February 17, 2003 | [11] |
| Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Ankara and Istanbul | November 2–4, 2003 | [2] |
| President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Herman De Croo | Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey Bülent Arınç | Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Ankara | November 28–December 1, 2004 | [2] |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht | Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gül | Ankara | October 30–31, 2006 | [2] |
| President Abdullah Gül | King Albert II | Brussels | March 25–27, 2009 | [12] |
| Prime Minister Yves Leterme | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Ankara | December 29–30, 2009 | [13] |
The Embassy of Belgium is located in Ankara, Turkey. The Embassy of Turkey is located in Brussels, Belgium.
- King Baudouin Foundation. "Belgian-Turks A Bridge or a Breach between Turkey and the European Union?" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
- King Baudouin Foundation. "Turkish communities and the EU" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
- Tulay Karadeniz and Philip Blenkinsop (March 11, 2019), Turkish foreign ministry summons Belgium's ambassador in Ankara Reuters.
- "Didier Reynders condemns the Turkish operation in Northeast Syria". Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- Brzozowski, Alexandra (2019-10-14). "EU condemns Turkey's military action, stops short of common arms embargo". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
- Commercial and Economic Relations between Türkiye and Belgium, Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- "Turkish - Belgian Business Council", Turkey-Now, accessed 23 July 2009.
- Belçika Başbakanı Abdullah Gül'ün Gönlünü Aldı Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Turkish)
- "President Gül Meets King Albert II of Belgium". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- Belgian Prime Minister Leterme arrives in Turkey, Zaman, December 29, 2009