Turkey proposes drone cooperation with Japan, says US-Iran agreement closer than ever
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with Nikkei Asia published Saturday that Turkey is eager to cooperate with Japan on unmanned aerial vehicles and anti-drone technologies, citing complementary capabilities. Fidan also stated that an agreement between the U.S. and Iran is "closer than ever" and that the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has become a priority over nuclear files. He added that Turkey could resume normal trade with Israel if Israel stops killing Palestinians and allows humanitarian access to Gaza.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with Japan's Nikkei Asia published on May 31, 2026, that Ankara is eager to cooperate with Tokyo on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and anti-drone technologies, citing complementary capabilities between the two countries.
"Türkiye and Japan have complementary capabilities, and we believe there is strong potential for mutually beneficial collaboration," Fidan said. He noted that Turkish drone technologies have proven themselves in different operational environments and could offer opportunities for joint development and co-production with Japan. "In aviation, particularly in unmanned aerial systems and anti-drone technologies, Türkiye has developed advanced and field-tested capabilities that could provide a strong basis for collaboration," he added.
Fidan also said progress had been made in negotiations on a social security agreement between Turkey and Japan, expressing hope that an agreement could be reached in the near future. He pointed to untapped potential in energy, digital transformation, aerospace technologies, robotics and resilient supply chains, and said Ankara's strategic objective on critical minerals is "not simply extraction, but producing high-value-added intermediate and end products. In that sense, cooperation with Japanese technology and investment could create a true win-win partnership."
On U.S.-Iran talks, Fidan said "both sides want to reach a positive conclusion. An agreement is closer than ever." He said the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is "putting too much pressure on both" the U.S. and Iran, and that "the international impact, including on energy security, food security, and rising prices, is immense." "This has become a situation that takes priority over the nuclear files," Fidan said.
Regarding Israel, Fidan said Turkey stopped trade because "Israel must stop killing Palestinians and must stop preventing Gazans from having access to basic human needs such as food, shelter, medicine, water. If these are met, we can go back to normal life, no problem. We want to achieve a two-state solution." Asked about Israeli politicians portraying Turkey as a threat, Fidan said: "In Israeli domestic politics, unfortunately, they need an enemy to make politics all the time to conduct their regional ambitions." He said Israel could join a regional cooperation platform if it recognizes a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.
Fidan said Turkey hopes to host leaders and defense ministers from NATO's Indo-Pacific partners, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, at the alliance's summit in Ankara in July 2026. Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's attendance, Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had spoken with Trump several times and Trump had never indicated he would not attend. "So far, all our preparations are in a way to accommodate President Trump," Fidan said.