Turkey has decided to give Tunisia a 5 million dollar gift to aid in the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Official Gazette reported on December 10. While the gift for Tunisia will be paid in full at once, Ankara also agreed on grants for Turkish Cyprus, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry also issued a 75 million dollar grant to Afghanistan in Nov., despite the dramatic financial downturn Turkey has experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Turkish Lira has plummeted to record lows against foreign currencies throughout 2020, prompting investment giant Moody's to downgrade Turkey's credit rating in September.
Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign trade deficit has observed a steady incline over the past year, as imports grew to include everyday goods like crops and grains, and exports shrunk in light of the pandemic that has depressed world markets.