Erdogan meets Musk in New York to discuss tech development in Turkey
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The Turkish Directorate of Communications posted Monday on X that Erdogan had met with Musk in New York.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US tech mogul and X owner Elon Musk in New York on September 18, 2023 (X/ T.C. İletişim Başkanlığı)
According to news released by Turkish broadcaster TGRT Haber on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened with US tech mogul and owner of social platform X, Elon Musk, in an effort to discuss possible investments of Musk in Turkey.
The meeting with Musk was conducted in New York where the President is expected to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to take place on September 18-26.
The Turkish Directorate of Communications posted on X on Monday that Erdogan had met with Musk in New York, saying: "Reminding that … Tesla entered the Turkish market, President Erdogan called on Tesla to establish its seventh factory in Turkey".
Musk was also briefed on Turkey's tech innovations and AI strategy and continued to invite him to Izmir's Teknofest.
According to the Directorate's statement, Erdogan suggested Musk's SpaceX could cooperate with Turkey to enhance its space program.
Read more: Turkish Interior Minister: US hated by whole world, Europe is US pawn
Past Twitter-Turkey tensions
On the other hand, Turkey has repeatedly limited access to X for several reasons.
One was in 2020 when X (back then Twitter) was restricted in Turkey after the former refused to open an office in the country in accordance with Turkish social media law. Authorities then allowed access again only after X opened the headquarters in March 2021.
The second was in January this year when the head of communications in the Turkish presidential office, Fahrettin Altun, called on Musk to release information about Twitter's past interference in Turkey's domestic political affairs.
Read next: Musk's Twitter hinders Turkey rescue efforts with new API decision
Twitter was not the only one that Turkey had tensions with. Erdogan arrived in New York last week amid tensions with the US, starting just two days ago and going back earlier this year.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a robust condemnation on Saturday in response to a US State Department report accusing the nation of enlisting child soldiers. The Ministry emphasized its intent to deliver a fitting reply to what it perceives as a baseless accusation that goes against the principles of alliance.
Turkey further accused the United States of offering financial aid to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organization banned in Turkey as a terrorist organization, adding that this support was linked to the recruitment of children for terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq.
Back in May, Turkey demanded refunds for the $1.4 billion it paid for F-35 jets after being excluded from the US F-35 multirole fighter program in April 2021, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated.
"We want our money now. We want the money we paid there to be returned. Our friends from the ministry came together and reviewed the steps we will take from now on. We are now taking care of ourselves," Cavusoglu told CNN Turk, adding that his government does not want the situation to transform "into a snake story like with the Patriot defense system."
