Erdogan on tour as Turkiye pivots to Asia

Turkiye’s engagement with Southeast Asia is often seen as part of a broader strategic pivot that has been evolving in line with its broader foreign policy. Last week President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conducted a tour of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan, which was significant in many respects and deserves a closer look.

In 2019, Turkiye introduced the Asia Anew Initiative with three main goals: to bolster Turkiye’s defense cooperation by building stronger defense ties with Asian countries; to address the growing demand for defense procurement by increasing Turkiye’s access to Asian markets; and to foster closer economic relations with individual countries and regional organizations of which they are members. The initiative covers various projects from 2024 to 2026. Malaysia and Indonesia play important roles, as both are members of influential organizations such as the ASEAN, BRICS, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Developing-8.

Erdogan’s first stop on his tour was Malaysia, which he last visited in 2019. Malaysia is especially important in the context of Asia Anew for several reasons. Malaysia is the 2025 chair of ASEAN, in whose summits Turkiye has participated since 2013. Turkiye is currently a sectoral dialogue partner of the organization, with aspirations to gain full dialogue partner status. Malaysia’s support, as one of ASEAN’s founding members, is crucial for Turkiye to achieve this goal.

Malaysia is also a member of the D-8, an international organization founded in 1997 in Istanbul, along with Turkiye, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt, and Nigeria. It is also an active member of the OIC, and along with Turkiye has been instrumental in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One of the key issues discussed during Erdoğan’s visit to Malaysia was the reconstruction of Gaza: Malaysia pledged to support the creation of a fund for this purpose and co-chair the East Asia Reconstruction Plan for Gaza and Palestine. Erdogan emphasized the importance of platforms like the OIC and D-8 to address global humanitarian issues, including Gaza. Malaysia also was the first ASEAN member country to sign a free trade agreement with Turkiye, in 2014.

The global shift of power from the West to the East, the “pivot to Asia” trend, changing dynamics in the Middle East, and Turkiye’s pragmatic foreign policy have shaped Ankara’s own turn toward Asia. 

Dr. Sinem Cengiz

There is a burgeoning relationship between Turkiye and Southeast Asian states in the area of defense. Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense has identified Turkiye as a key player in the development of its defense capabilities. In particular, Malaysia has shown interest in Turkish maritime defense products. Turkish defense giant STM signed an agreement with Malaysia in 2024for the purchase of three corvette warships. The strong momentum of Turkish-Malaysian relations was evident in the 11 agreements signed during Erdogan's visit.

The president’s second stop was Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The two countries have significantly strengthened their ties in recent years. In 2022, they signed five agreements on defense, technology, forestry, and environmental cooperation. In 2023, they agreed to carry out joint military exercises and enhance their defense industry cooperation. During Erdogan’s visit, an agreement was signed between Indonesian defense company Republikorp and Turkiye’s Baykar to establish a drone production facility in Indonesia. President Prabowo Subianto spoke highly of this growing cooperation, noting successful joint ventures with Turkish defense firms such as Roketsan, Aselsan, Havelsan, and Baykar. This visit also marked the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council of two states, which was established in 2022.

The final leg of Erdogan’s tour took him to Pakistan, which he visited five years ago. Turkiye has a special bond with Pakistan, a middle-sized defense partner where Turkiye has long played a crucial role in strengthening military capabilities. During this visit, Pakistan signed a deal to acquire electronic warfare aircraft — another outcome of the already growing defense cooperation, particularly in areas such as technology transfer, joint production agreements, and arms sales. Turkish defense companies such as Aselsan and Roketsan have worked with Pakistani partners to develop advanced weaponry, enhancing Pakistan’s indigenous defense production and reducing its reliance on Western suppliers. This growing military collaboration has deepened Turkiye-Pakistan relations and solidified Turkiye’s position as an important partner.

The global shift of power from the West to the East, the “pivot to Asia” trend, changing dynamics in the Middle East, and Turkiye’s pragmatic foreign policy have shaped Ankara’s own turn toward Asia. Turkiye is now working to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, a region that has warmly welcomed this involvement. But it is important to consider how Turkiye can further align its strategic objectives with the evolving dynamics of this region and increasing competition among several actors. The personal diplomacy at leadership level with each nation, defense capabilities, and economic potential are Turkiye’s key assets that can support its pivot to Asia. But its Southeast Asia policy needs sustained focus and efforts, moving beyond economic and defense collaboration, and building more on people-to-people relations.

• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz