Energy will be central to reaching the $100 billion bilateral trade target between Washington and Ankara, the US Consul General in Istanbul said, calling Türkiye a vital partner in boosting energy security, reliable supply, and competitive pricing.
Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the 25th World LNG Summit in Istanbul, Michael Lally, who was appointed to the post last month, said: "We see Türkiye as a major partner in that way, providing energy security, reliability, and competitive prices in our partnership through Türkiye, using energy as a further link between our countries."
Lally's comments come as Washington and Ankara seek to advance a long-standing $100 billion trade goal, with energy, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), viewed as a practical step toward deeper economic ties amid evolving global supply patterns.
As part of those efforts, Turkish companies have signed multibillion-dollar LNG supply deals with US companies, reinforcing energy's central role in bilateral trade.
Marking its 25th anniversary, the World LNG Summit was held in Türkiye for the first time on Dec. 2-5, reflecting the country's growing profile in the global LNG market.
Türkiye is Europe's fourth-largest natural gas market, with annual consumption of around 60 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to official figures. Long-term LNG contracts signed by Türkiye in 2025 alone amount to 106 bcm.
In addition, the country has rapidly expanded its gas infrastructure, boosting its regasification capacity fivefold to 161 million cubic meters per day and increasing storage capacity more than 6 bcm, with further expansions planned.
The Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) now sources gas from 22 countries and 33 companies, supplying excess volumes to neighboring markets and gas networks.
Lally said he attended the event to focus on US-Türkiye partnerships, pointing to what he described as an "excellent" meeting between the two countries' presidents on Sept. 25 in Washington.
"We talked about how we wish to grow our trade, how we have to work towards that $100 billion goal, and the road there is energy," he said, adding that LNG cooperation is a key part of that effort.
Lally said Washington and Ankara have been cooperating for decades throughout the region in energy because they are natural partners, noting Türkiye's growing energy needs as its economy expands.
"Türkiye needs further energy resources in order to grow its economy, and the United States is there as a reliable partner that provides advantageous commercial terms and a long-term vision for that," he said. "Türkiye's investment in its onshore infrastructure and its regasification units make it a very attractive market."
Lally said the cooperation helps strengthen both countries' energy security while supporting the shared goal of expanding bilateral trade.
- 'Energy partnership is the way to go'
Noting the importance of US-Türkiye cooperation across all areas, he said that US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack had emphasized the need to elevate and further expand the relationship to address regional issues.
"We believe that the energy partnership is the way to go," he explained. "Türkiye has always tried to position itself as a regional hub, working closely with American suppliers, not only in LNG but in all areas of energy, including infrastructure."
"That is where we want to take that decades-long partnership forward for the future," he added.
Lally also highlighted Türkiye's role in supplying LNG to the region, citing the country's long-term approach to expanding pipeline and gas infrastructure and its focus on regional markets.
He said LNG provides flexible cargoes that allow US and Turkish companies to cooperate bilaterally and supply the wider region with energy that heats homes, powers factories and supports economic growth.
Referring to a recently signed nuclear energy agreement between Türkiye and the US, Lally said civil nuclear cooperation formed part of the broader partnership and underscored the long-term nature of energy ties between the two countries.
"The way the civil nuclear industry works is a long-term industry," he said. "As we saw on September 25th, relating it again back to our president's meetings, we are going to be working together on all aspects of civil nuclear cooperation in order to provide the long-term power needs that Türkiye will need to power its economy."
Lally also pointed to a civil aviation agreement involving the delivery of Boeing aircraft to Turkish Airlines as an example of private-sector cooperation, saying Washington would continue to pursue opportunities in areas such as information technology, healthcare, and in other areas to meet the $100 billion target.
"We are always very happy to collaborate with our Turkish partners," he added.
By Firdevs Yuksel and Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr