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‘A Crucial Step’: Erdogan’s Top Aide on Ditching Dollar in Trade With Russia

© AFP 2023 / OZAN KOSEAn exchange office worker counts Turkish lira banknotes in Istanbul on June 8, 2015
An exchange office worker counts Turkish lira banknotes in Istanbul on June 8, 2015 - Sputnik International
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In an exclusive interview with Sputnik Turkey, Bülent Gedikli, a top adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the use of national currencies in bilateral trade would add a new dimension to the mutually-beneficial cooperation between Turkey and Russia.

Mr. Gedikli was commenting on President Erdogan’s proposal to replace the US dollar with the Turkish lira and Russian ruble in bilateral trade.

“The cooperation between our two countries is of vital importance to the entire region. We believe that the use of the lira and ruble in our bilateral trade will add a new dimension to our cooperation and help implement bilateral trade agreements,” Bülent Gedikli told Sputnik Turkey.

He added that Ankara also expected to sign a number of foreign policy agreements with Russia and mentioned the longtime global economic pivot to the East.

“That said, I feel that by complementing the positive climate of political cooperation with efficient economic partnership would  have a very positive impact on the region. The use of the lira and ruble in bilateral trade would be extremely beneficial for the future cooperation between our two countries,” Bülent Gedikli told Sputnik Turkey.

The Russian Central Bank - Sputnik International
Russia
Russia-Turkey Trade in National Currencies Has No Barriers - Russia Central Bank
When asked about the possible effect the proposed ditching of the US dollar in favor of the lira and ruble could have on the trade ties between Russia and Turkey, Mr. Gedikli said that trade transaction in national currencies would speed up the pace of economic cooperation and implementation of joint projects.

“This will have a mutually strengthening effect on our economies, which we hope will also result in pertinent bilateral accords. In structural terms, our economies complement, rather than compete with each other,” Bülent Gedikli said.

He added that Turkey has what Russia needs and vice versa, so the use of national currencies would breathe new vigor into their cooperation in energy, tourism, industry, construction and investments.

“In this sense a transition to the lira and the ruble would be a crucial and extremely positive step” Mr. Gedikli emphasized.

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