11-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asean mulls full dialogue partner status for Turkiye
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean is considering granting Turkiye full dialogue partner status in the near future as relations between both sides continue to strengthen.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the matter is being considered in light of Turkiye's growing collaboration with Asean member states, particularly in the fields of technology, security, and defence.
"Turkiye has played a constructive role as a sectoral dialogue partner with Asean, with various initiatives already carried out together.
"These include cooperation in technology, security, defence, agriculture, and the provision of scholarships to students from Asean member countries.
"So we are considering the best way forward in bringing Turkiye in as a full dialogue partner of Asean in the near future, God willing," he said briefly after the Trilateral Meeting between Malaysia, Turkiye, and the Asean Secretariat.
Mohamad added that Asean may not be open to expanding dialogue partnerships further at this point, citing a moratorium due to the already large number of existing partners.
In his opening remarks, he welcomed deeper cooperation in defence and technology transfer as a means to further strengthen ties with Turkiye.
He also said economic relations are expected to deepen, particularly through the Turkiye–Asean Business and Investment Forum, support for MSME development, and innovation partnerships.
"Turkiye's expertise in e-governance can be instrumental in promoting digital integration, diversifying supply chains, and strengthening collective resilience — all crucial as we navigate current geo-economic challenges," he said.
On the socio-cultural front, he cited initiatives such as the Turkiye Scholarships–AseanJoint Scholarship Programme, diplomatic training, and proposed collaboration in vocational education and digital skills development as key to enhancing people-to-people ties.
He also called on Asean and Turkiye to present a united front in advocating for peaceful and just resolutions to global conflicts, including the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
"We must call for Israel to be held accountable for its unrelenting violations of international law.
"Impunity has emboldened it to attack other countries, and it will continue to destabilise the region and beyond if left unchecked."
The Asean-Turkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership was established in 2017.
