Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Fidan to Emphasize Regional Unity at ASEAN Talks
Fidan to Underscore Türkiye’s Commitment to Regional Cooperation at ASEAN Forum
July 9, 2025 – Kuala Lumpur
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is preparing to reinforce Ankara’s emphasis on regional collaboration and multilateral diplomacy during high-level ASEAN meetings this week in Malaysia.
Fidan will participate in the 7th Trilateral Meeting under the Türkiye–ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, held alongside the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting from July 10 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur.
During the event—co-chaired by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn—Fidan is expected to advocate for deeper regional cooperation, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region amid ongoing global challenges.
He will present Türkiye’s vision under its “Asia Anew” initiative, focusing on inclusive, cooperative engagement with ASEAN states. Specific areas of Türkiye’s proposed support include:
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Combating transnational crime
- Economic resilience and development
- Food security and poverty alleviation
In addition to regional development topics, Fidan is expected to outline Türkiye’s principled approach to major global issues, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and call attention to the broader implications of Israeli military actions. He will reiterate Ankara’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict and press for stronger international action amid growing disillusionment with existing global mechanisms.
Alongside the main sessions, Fidan will hold one-on-one meetings with other foreign ministers, using the sidelines of the ASEAN forum to explore bilateral cooperation and strategic opportunities.
Strengthening ASEAN–Türkiye Relations
Türkiye became a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2010 and gained sectoral dialogue partner status with ASEAN in 2017. Since then, diplomatic and economic ties have steadily deepened. In 2024, Türkiye submitted an application to become a full Dialogue Partner, the highest status ASEAN grants to non-member states.
Notable developments in the partnership include the renewal of the Practical Cooperation Areas action plan for 2024–2028, focusing on joint projects in education, green energy, maritime affairs, sustainable development, and disaster management.
With embassies now operating in all ten ASEAN countries, Türkiye’s growing presence in the region underscores its intent to position itself as a long-term partner in the Asia-Pacific.
Trade between Türkiye and ASEAN surged from $6.5 billion in 2010 to over $15.7 billion by 2024, highlighting the region’s increasing relevance to Turkish foreign policy.
