Reports at the end of January 2025 indicated that Turkey’s TAIS shipbuilding company is seeking a contract to sell four corvettes to the Royal Thai Navy, reflecting Ankara’s ongoing interest in establishing a presence in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2019, Turkey launched the “New Asia” initiative to present its vision for enhancing cooperation with countries in the area, focusing on expanding its economic reach beyond its immediate neighbors in the Middle East toward the Asia-Pacific region as a core part of diversifying its foreign policy and addressing the trade deficit favoring these countries. Since then, Turkey has been taking proactive steps to implement this initiative, strengthening its political, economic, and military connections with regional countries, which would be beneficial for it. However, Turkey will face several challenges to becoming an effective player in the Indo-Pacific, notably its lack of geographic proximity, existing disagreements with major regional powers such as India and China, and intensifying regional and international competition.
Turkish Interest
In recent years, Turkey has relied on several tools to bolster its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, summarized as follows:
Introducing a Turkish Strategy for the Indo-Pacific: In August 2019, Ankara unveiled its vision for cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region through the “New Asia Initiative,” which aims to enhance relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other Asian countries. The initiative is built on four pillars: improving state relations, expanding private sector trade, strengthening academic cooperation, and enhancing societal interaction. A dedicated ambassador was appointed to coordinate the initiative. This initiative aligns with Ankara’s goal of crafting a multidimensional foreign policy and diversifying its economic partners.
Increased Turkish Political Engagement: Turkey has emphasized strengthening its political presence and intensifying diplomatic efforts in the region even before launching the initiative. Istanbul hosted the Turkey-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2008 and a meeting of Small Island Developing States in 2014. In July 2020, a meeting took place among the foreign ministers of Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, and Australia to discuss mutual cooperation. Ankara also participated in the “Pacific Islands Forum” and the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization” as a dialogue partner. The relationships between Turkey and countries like China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore are described as “strategic partnerships.” Moreover, Turkey and regional states coordinate on issues like human rights and the Palestinian cause in international organizations like the UN and other coalitions such as the G20. Turkey has established 15 embassies in the region, a high number given the geographic distance.
Strengthening Links Between Turkey and Indo-Pacific Countries: In November 2018, Turkey obtained “dialogue partner” status with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which Ankara welcomed for its potential to enhance ties with Indian Ocean states, part of the Indo-Pacific region, that possess diverse economic potentials, energy resources, and raw materials for mutual benefit.
Turkey is also working to establish bilateral or trilateral alliances with regional countries, including a bilateral alliance with Pakistan, initiated in 2019 due to its strategic importance in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, alongside a matching foreign policy stance. Ankara supports Pakistan’s claims in Kashmir and has formed the “Trilateral Brotherhood” alliance with Pakistan and Azerbaijan, noted for its increased trade and annual joint military exercises.
Enhancing Mutual Economic Cooperation
By 2021, bilateral trade between Turkey and the region amounted to $75 billion. Turkey signed free trade agreements with South Korea, and China emerged as its largest Asian trading partner, participating in several infrastructure projects. Turkey also joined the “Belt and Road Initiative.” South Korean and Japanese companies have been involved in major Turkish infrastructure projects, including the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge and the Marmaray Tunnel.
Additionally, the trade volume between India and Turkey reached $10 billion in 2021, with ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement or “comprehensive economic partnership.” By 2024, India became Turkey’s second-largest trading partner in East Asia after China. Meanwhile, Turkish companies such as Beko began investing in Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
Enhancing Economic Cooperation with ASEAN Countries: Turkey places special importance on ASEAN countries, having joined the treaty of friendship and cooperation with ASEAN in 2010 and becoming a member of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue in 2013, which has boosted its economic collaboration with the ten member states. In 2022, Ankara signed a “bilateral strategic agreement between the government and business actors” with ASEAN and executed free trade agreements with Singapore and Malaysia in 2015 and 2017. It is now seeking to establish a similar agreement with Indonesia and Thailand. Turkey and Singapore enjoy bilateral trade exceeding $1 billion, with Turkish construction firms contributing to the development of a new capital in Indonesia. A joint action plan was set between Ankara and Bangkok for 2023-2028, aiming to declare their strategic partnership in 2027. Indonesia and Turkey established a strategic council in 2022 to regularly discuss various bilateral, regional, and multilateral strategic issues.
Providing Humanitarian Aid: Turkey has delivered various humanitarian assistance to Indo-Pacific countries through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak by supplying medical equipment to several countries in the region. In 2021, Ankara provided financial support to the “Pacific Resilience Fund” established within the Pacific Islands Forum to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on Pacific island nations. From 2011 to 2024, Turkey contributed around Turkey has provided $1 billion in humanitarian aid and economic support to Somalia. Additionally, it has been offering ongoing support in areas such as health, education, and infrastructure for displaced Rohingya in camps in Bangladesh, with assistance estimated at around $70 million.
Increased Military Cooperation: According to a January 2025 report by Intelligence Online, Ankara is seeking a contract with the Thai Navy to manufacture four corvettes from 2026 to 2027, which would present an opportunity for Turkey to strengthen its military collaboration with Thailand. Turkey can also promote the export of Turkish drones (Bayraktar), which have been supplied to over 30 countries in recent years. There has been previous military collaboration between Ankara and regional countries, particularly between Turkey and Jakarta in developing Indonesia’s “Tiger PT Pindad” tank and a joint infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) development project between FNSS from Turkey and PT Industry, including cooperation in wireless defense software development. Turkey has signed several arms deals with the Indonesian army, and it sold TB2 drones to the Maldives and Turkish patrol ships to Malaysia.
Future Challenges
While Turkey’s movements in the Indo-Pacific region are fruitful and serve the “New Asia” initiative, several future challenges may hinder its development:
Implementation Difficulties of the “New Asia” Initiative: Although regional countries welcome cooperation with Turkey, especially in economic and military domains that offer suitable alternatives to costly American and European military products, this initiative could expose Ankara to American pressure if Turkish-U.S. interests clash. Geographic distance, especially with small island nations in the Pacific, poses a significant challenge to fostering cooperation. Additionally, Turkey must finalize stalled free trade agreements with ASEAN countries.
Turkish-Indian Disagreements: Many direct meetings have occurred between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet those have not resolved foreign policy differences between the two nations. Turkey’s alliance with Pakistan has led to criticism of India’s abrogation of Article 370 of its constitution, which granted autonomy to the Kashmir region, prompting India to cancel a $2.3 billion order with Turkish company Anadolu Shipyard for the construction of vessels to support the Indian fleet. Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia has also exacerbated tensions, while India has strengthened its economic and military ties with Cyprus and Greece, causing concern in Ankara. These differences could lead New Delhi to pressure smaller nations in the Indo-Pacific, which fall under its influence, to distance themselves from cooperation with Ankara.
Cool Relations with China: Despite increased trade volumes between Ankara and Beijing, relations have cooled, highlighted by Chinese President Xi Jinping postponing his visit to Ankara multiple times. Ankara supports the rights of Uyghurs in East Turkestan, where Beijing is accused of persecuting Uyghur Muslims, and is providing ongoing humanitarian assistance. Moreover, Turkey and China are competitors in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa, complicating the enhancement of their collaboration. This affects Turkish engagement in the Indo-Pacific, as Beijing influences several regional countries and may pressure them to reduce their cooperation with Ankara.
Regional and International Competition in the Indo-Pacific: The Indo-Pacific region hosts major competing powers, including China, India, and Japan, alongside U.S. efforts to expand its political, economic, and military influence through the establishment of a “free and open” Indo-Pacific. Additionally, French and British influences remain important through their territories in the region, along with Australia’s endeavors to strengthen ties with island nations to counter Chinese influence. Russia is also part of this competition, declaring its intent to enhance its economic cooperation and military presence in the region, complicating Ankara’s initiatives and its competition with these powers.
Overall, Turkey is relying on two policies in its relationships with Indo-Pacific nations: the first is a “pragmatic” approach focused on achieving interests despite political disagreements, as seen in its relations with India and China. The second is forming strategic partnerships that encompass economic and military collaboration, as demonstrated in its ties with Pakistan, Thailand, and Malaysia, with aspirations to apply this policy to all sector nations. Despite Turkey’s early interest in the region through the “New Asia Initiative” and efforts to strengthen economic and military ties with regional countries, its presence remains in its nascent stages and requires further development and expansion across the region to become a significant player. This aspiration faces several challenges, primarily the geographical communication difficulties between Ankara and the region, disagreements with key states like India and China, and intense regional and international competition that complicates Turkish presence there.
