Three destinations, one purpose of Turkish President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a tour of three countries with the largest Muslim populations in Southeast Asia and South Asia, from February 10-13.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kuala Lumpur, February 10. (Source: X)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan comes amid a dramatic shift in Middle East geopolitics , especially after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024 and US President Donald Trump's recent statements on reconstruction and resettlement in the Gaza Strip.

Expanding influence

The importance of the visit is reflected in the large delegation accompanying it, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and business leaders in the fields of defense, energy, digital technology, logistics, agriculture and tourism.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan are all key allies of Ankara in the Muslim world, which explains the warm welcome for the Turkish leader, given the strong commitments and quality of the agreements signed.

After talks in Kuala Lumpur on February 11, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and host country Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a joint statement, reaffirming that the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2022 is progressing steadily. The two leaders witnessed the signing of 11 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in many areas of cooperation, from defense and security, energy, counter-terrorism to trade, media, education and tourism. According to Turkey's Anadolu news agency, the two sides made important progress in the military field, with an agreement on new arms procurement and the establishment of a Joint Committee on Defense Products.

On regional issues, the Malaysian Prime Minister, in his role as ASEAN Chair 2025, welcomed Türkiye's participation in the ASEAN Dialogue Partnership and Ankara's support for ASEAN centrality.

Regarding the Gaza Strip issue, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Ibrahim reaffirmed their support for the two-state solution and Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, calling it "crucial for a just and lasting solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The two sides also pledged to strengthen cooperation at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Group of Eight (D-8). Emphasizing their support for combating Islamophobia, the two leaders affirmed their commitment to the principles of the OIC and the importance of collective action in addressing common challenges facing the Muslim world.

After concluding his activities in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Erdogan flew to Jakarta on February 12, co-chairing with his counterpart Prabowo Subianto the first summit of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, after this mechanism was established in 2022. The two Presidents witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements on trade, investment, education and technology.

Relations between Jakarta and Ankara have grown closer in recent years. In July last year, the two sides met in Ankara when Subianto was president-elect and defense minister. At that time, Subianto pledged to “enhance defense cooperation and other strategic areas for mutual benefit.”

On their final stop in Islamabad, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-chair the seventh meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the two countries’ highest decision-making body, on February 13. According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the two sides will sign a number of MOUs to facilitate investment and remove non-tariff barriers.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an official welcoming ceremony in the capital Jakarta on February 12. (Source: Free Press Journal)

The main pillars

Economic and defense cooperation remain the main pillars of Turkey’s relationship with Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan, a major player in the Muslim world and regional geopolitics. Turkey currently has trade worth around $5 billion with Malaysia, $1.5 billion with Indonesia and over $1 billion with Pakistan. According to Malaysian news agency Bernama , Ankara is aiming for $10 billion with the two ASEAN members and $5 billion with the South Asian nation.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan are all major arms buyers of Turkey, with popular products including new-generation drones, anti-ship missiles and warships, according to Forbes magazine. Jakarta has been working closely with Ankara, especially on air and sea defense systems, and has begun using Turkish weapons on a large scale. Malaysia has also adopted Turkish defense technologies for use in its navy and air force.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2023 report, Türkiye is Pakistan's second largest arms supplier, accounting for 11% of the country's total arms imports. The defense partnership between the two sides has grown significantly, with joint projects such as the development of MILGEM warships, modernization of fighter aircraft fleets, and development of drones.

In 2010, Pakistan signed a defense cooperation agreement with Türkiye, under which Indonesia's state arms manufacturer Pindad and Türkiye's FNSS jointly developed a new medium tank. By 2023, the two sides had signed an action plan for joint military exercises and defense industry cooperation.

President Erdogan's successful tour of three Muslim countries shows that Ankara's strategy of expanding its influence through religious engagement not only continues to maintain Türkiye's position and role in the Muslim world but also increases trade and diplomatic partnerships with Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan, especially in the current context.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ba-diem-den-mot-muc-dich-cua-tong-thong-tho-nhi-ky-304130.html