Indonesia has thrown its weight behind Türkiye’s bid to become a full ASEAN Dialogue Partner, marking a significant diplomatic boost for Ankara as it seeks deeper engagement with Southeast Asia’s 11-member regional bloc.
The endorsement was delivered through a joint declaration issued after the inaugural Indonesia–Türkiye 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Ankara on Jan 9, and published by Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry a day later.
The statement noted that Indonesian ministers “expressed their continued support for Turkiye’s application to become a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN”, signalling Jakarta’s readiness to facilitate Ankara’s elevation within the 11-member grouping.
Türkiye currently holds Sectoral Dialogue Partner status, granted in 2017, but full Dialogue Partner recognition would unlock wider cooperation across security, diplomacy, trade and humanitarian coordination.
The meeting gathered Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, alongside their Indonesian counterparts Sugiono and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, underscoring escalating defence and foreign policy coordination between the two G20 nations.
At the same time, the declaration also revealed Turkish ministers reiterated support for Indonesia’s pursuit of OECD membership, as both sides highlighted the need to expand triangular development cooperation aimed at sustainable, inclusive growth.
On the economic front, Indonesia and Türkiye pledged to drive bilateral trade to US$10 billion, while welcoming progress toward a Preferential Trade Agreement — viewed as a precursor to a broader Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
