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Prabowo, Turkey's Erdogan agree to bolster ties

The Turkish leader was visiting Indonesia after travelling to Malaysia and before heading to Pakistan on a four-day tour of key allies in the Islamic world.

Agencies
Jakarta
Wed, February 12, 2025 Published on Feb. 12, 2025 Published on 2025-02-12T16:06:42+07:00

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Prabowo, Turkey's Erdogan agree to bolster ties Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto (L) and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspect a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

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resident Prabowo Subianto and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks Wednesday, signing a series of agreements to boost trade and defence ties between the Muslim-majority nations, including a joint venture to build drones.

The Turkish leader was visiting Indonesia after travelling to Malaysia and before heading to Pakistan on a four-day tour of key allies in the Islamic world.

He was greeted at a presidential palace in Bogor, West Java, by a traditional marching band, national anthems and schoolchildren waving flags.

"We are committed to increasing trade between the two countries, which is mutually beneficial," Prabowo said after talks with Erdogan.

"We also agree to increase joint production and cooperation in the defence industry."

Prabowo said that would include joint training for soldiers and closer collaboration on counter-terrorism and intelligence.

A dozen agreements on trade, energy, higher education and religious affairs were signed by ministers and officials, including a deal to manufacture drones in Indonesia, as the pair watched on.

Prabowo earlier called Erdogan "my close friend, my brother" after his arrival and said both sides were also trying to accelerate the signing of a free trade agreement.

The leaders held their nations' first High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting before the agreements were signed.

Erdogan said the pair talked about global issues including Syria and the Palestinian cause, alongside future deals seeking to boost their trade to $10 billion a year.

Erdogan arrived in Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport on Tuesday evening welcomed personally by President Prabowo, who escorted him in a convoy to his residence. 

Receiving a red carpet welcome at the rainy airport, Erdogan and his wife Emine were met with a military ceremony, a six-gun salute and the Indonesian Military (TNI) march “Genderang Kemenangan” playing in the background. 

“This state visit is an important step in strengthening the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Turkey. It is hoped that this visit will bring about positive impacts on the advancement of both countries,” a release from the Presidential Secretariat said.

Indonesia and Turkey's trade in 2024 was worth $2.4 billion, according to Indonesia's trade ministry.

The leaders last met in July for talks in the Turkish capital Ankara before then-defence minister Prabowo was officially inaugurated as Indonesia's president.

Relations between the two countries grew closer under Prabowo's predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who paid a state visit to Turkey in 2017.

In 2023, Indonesia purchased 12 Turkish drones worth around $300 million in a push to upgrade its ageing military.

Both are members of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation where they are staunch supporters of Palestinians and vocal critics of Israel.

 

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