Belgium–Turkey relations

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.

History

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]

Political relations

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]

Economic relations

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]

Visits

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]

Embassies

The Embassy of Belgium is located in Ankara, Turkey. The Embassy of Turkey is located in Brussels, Belgium.

References

^ Belgian Foreign Policy: Bilateral relations / Southeast Europe / Turkey
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Turkey´s Political Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Commercial and Economic Relations between Türkiye and Belgium, Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
^ Türkiye–Belçika Ticari ve Ekonomik İlişkileri / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (in Turkish)
^ "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

External links

[belgian_mfa-1] Belgian Foreign Policy: Bilateral relations / Southeast Europe / Turkey

[political-2] Turkey´s Political Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[3] 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.

[4] King Baudouin Foundation. "Turkish communities and the EU" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2008-12-26.

[5] Tulay Karadeniz and Philip Blenkinsop (March 11, 2019), Turkish foreign ministry summons Belgium's ambassador in Ankara Reuters.

[6] "Didier Reynders condemns the Turkish operation in Northeast Syria". Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-11.

[7] Brzozowski, Alexandra (2019-10-14). "EU condemns Turkey's military action, stops short of common arms embargo". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2019-10-14.

[economic-8] Commercial and Economic Relations between Türkiye and Belgium, Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[economic_tr-9] Türkiye–Belçika Ticari ve Ekonomik İlişkileri / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (in Turkish)

[10] "Turkish - Belgian Business Council", Turkey-Now, accessed 23 July 2009.

[11] Belçika Başbakanı Abdullah Gül'ün Gönlünü Aldı Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Turkish)

[12] "President Gül Meets King Albert II of Belgium". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2009-07-22.

[13] Belgian Prime Minister Leterme arrives in Turkey, Zaman, December 29, 2009

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