ASEAN-Türkiye Forum Boosts Strategic Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The inaugural ASEAN-Türkiye Forum was held in Jakarta on Monday, June 29, 2026. It marks a significant step toward strengthening cooperation between the two regions while supporting Türkiye’s bid to become an ASEAN Full Dialogue Partner.

Held under the theme “Bridges of Progress: Advancing ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation across Economy, Security, Sustainability, Peacebuilding, and Digitalization,” the forum was organized by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Jakarta. The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, academicians, and experts from both regions.

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe said ASEAN and Türkiye possess complementary economic characteristics. He noted that ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions, while Türkiye serves as a strategic gateway connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

“The synergy between the two regions holds tremendous potential to enhance shared prosperity, economic resilience, and security,” Watanabe said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Talip Küçükcan, said the inaugural forum reflected both sides’ commitment to establishing a sustainable mechanism for strategic dialogue. He emphasized that the forum is intended not as a one-time event but as a regular platform to further strengthen ASEAN-Türkiye relations.

At the same event, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh said ASEAN-Türkiye relations are becoming increasingly important amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics. He stressed that the partnership should not only build on past achievements but also serve as a pillar of stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The forum produced several policy recommendations, including deepening strategic cooperation beyond the current Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, expanding Türkiye’s engagement with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and strengthening its observer participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

In the energy and industrial sectors, participants also called for enhanced cooperation through technology transfer, joint research initiatives, and the development of manufacturing ecosystems for critical minerals and energy.

The forum further recommended the establishment of a regional digital certification framework known as the Digital Skills Passport, the creation of a Digital Workforce Development Center, and the annual organization of the ASEAN-Türkiye Youth Forum to strengthen human resource development.

Türkiye acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2010, accredited its embassy to ASEAN in 2011, and became an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 2017.

In 2024, Türkiye formally applied to become an ASEAN Full Dialogue Partner as part of its efforts to expand multidimensional cooperation with Southeast Asia.