ASEAN-Turkey Forum Strengthens Turkey's Bid to Become Full Dialogue Partner

Turkey's efforts to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations have entered a new phase with the inaugural ASEAN-Turkey Forum held in Jakarta. This event served as a platform to bolster strategic cooperation and underscore Ankara's ambition to become a Full Dialogue Partner with ASEAN.

The forum, themed "Bridges of Progress: Advancing ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation across Economy, Security, Sustainability, Peacebuilding, and Digitalization," was organized by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Jakarta. It convened policymakers, diplomats, academics, and experts from both ASEAN and Turkey to discuss opportunities for enhanced collaboration.

Participants explored avenues for strengthening cooperation in trade, security, energy, sustainable development, digital transformation, and human resource development amidst evolving global geopolitical and economic dynamics. ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe noted the complementary strengths of ASEAN and Turkey, highlighting ASEAN's position as a global economic growth center and Turkey's strategic role as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He believes combining their strengths could foster shared prosperity, economic resilience, and enhanced security.

Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, Prof. Talip Küçükcan, described the forum as a manifestation of both parties' commitment to a long-term strategic partnership. He emphasized that the ASEAN-Turkey Forum is intended to be a regular dialogue mechanism, not merely a ceremonial event. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, recognized the growing strategic importance of ASEAN-Turkey relations amid increasing global uncertainty, stressing the need for these ties to become a pillar of economic and political stability.