Ankara, 21 January 2022 (TDI): President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele traveled to Ankara on an official visit of two days. The objective of the trip was about improving both nations’ diplomatic relations.
Bukele arrived on January 20, and this is the first official visit of 2022 of the Salvadoran President. Indeed, the visit of the Salvadoran President to Turkey is motivated by the new focus of the Salvadoran Government to boost ties with other nations; and Turkey is among them.
Firstly, President Nayib met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and both had a reunion where they discussed subjects of mutual interest. The reunion resulted in the signing of 6 economic agreements to enhance existent areas of collaboration. Moreover, during the trip, Bukele visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the state of Turkey.
The relationship between both parties is friendly and cordial. Indeed, both collaborate in the private sector. In particular, some Turkish companies explore the energy sector by investing in El Salvador.
For example, during the Pandemic, the Turkish Cooperation Agency (TIKA) in 2021 facilitated an online training module on “Methods of combating COVID-19” to 35 Salvadorans doctors.
TURKEY-EL SALVADOR RELATIONS
Due to geographical distance, both countries have not interacted a lot in the past. However, in 1998 when Turkey pivoted to Latin America and the Caribbean, both countries strengthened their interaction.
The areas of collaboration of Turkey and El Salvador are education, agriculture, logistics infrastructure, and clean energy sources. Both countries also have cooperation regarding military equipment, aerospace development.
El Salvador opened its embassy in Ankara during this official trip of Nayib Bukele, and Turkey plans to open its physical embassy in El Salvador soon. However, the Turkish embassy in Guatemala is the accredited embassy for El Salvador.
Regarding multilateral relations, Turkey is a partner with two regional organizations of which El Salvador is a member. For instance, the Central American system of Integration (SICA) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Both are member States of International Organizations, such as The United Nations(UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank.
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