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Discourse: How to maintain Turkey, Indonesia’s long-standing defense ties

Mehmet Kadri Sander Gürbüz (JP/Novan Iman Santosa)Turkey and Indonesia have had a historic relationship ever since the 16th century, when the Aceh sultanate sought help from the Ottoman Empire amid a foreign invasion

The Jakarta Post
Mon, September 17, 2018 Published on Sep. 17, 2018 Published on 2018-09-17T01:55:39+07:00

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Mehmet Kadri Sander Gürbüz (JP/Novan Iman Santosa)

Turkey and Indonesia have had a historic relationship ever since the 16th century, when the Aceh sultanate sought help from the Ottoman Empire amid a foreign invasion. Former Turkish ambassador to Indonesia Mehmet Kadri Sander Gürbüz, who returned home recently after retiring on his 65th birthday, said the Turkish Empire sent 20 ships with personnel and ammunition. Before leaving Jakarta, Gurbuz talked with The Jakarta Post’s Agnes Anya about how Indonesia and Turkey continued their long existing ties, particularly in defense, in the modern era. Here are some excerpts:

Question: How have Indonesia-Turkey bilateral relations grown during these recent years, particularly during your time in office?

Answer: In modern times, we have had excellent relations with Indonesia. We are both members of the G20, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Developing-8 Organization and MIKTA [Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia]. We are working in these international organizations very well together. During my time, I was very happy because President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo last year visited Turkey officially. It was a turning point in our relations [as] many agreements were signed. This has created sympathy between President Jokowi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the visit, it was also decided to negotiate a free trade agreement Indonesia calls CEPA [comprehensive economic partnership agreement]. The negotiation for that has started and is already going to the third round. Hopefully, by the end of this year, we will be able to sign it because that agreement will boost also our economic relations.

Is there any potential in the ongoing negotiation to lengthen the process?

Fortunately, both sides are willing to sign it as quickly as possible and, of course, the Indonesian side is very interested because Indonesia will benefit more. But, it is OK for us because we do not really want to count every dollar in our relationship. For us, it is more important to increase the volume. The CEPA will make, for example, Indonesia’s exports to Turkey cheaper. The best example is palm oil, one of your main export items. At the moment, it is disadvantaged compared to Malaysia’s palm oil because Turkey and Malaysia have a free trade agreement already. Therefore, Malaysia’s palm oil can be imported cheaper than Indonesia’s.

Indonesia has been working with Turkey, a member of the military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], in the military sector. How has this relationship been?


Turkey and Indonesia of course are working closely together in many areas. One of them is cooperation in the defense industry. There are many projects that we want to develop together, from advanced development of medium tanks to submarines and unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs]. We have built one of two medium tanks and hopefully soon, we will go into another production to cover the needs of Indonesia. The main wish of Indonesia is to be able to build these, and we are ready to transfer our technology. It started with the tank project two or three years ago. It will now go to the second phase to build 200 tanks. Indonesia is interested to use them for themselves and market them to [third-party] countries.

Now that you are leaving Indonesia, what should your successor watch or maintain in regard to the bilateral ties?

I have not left anything for you; half joking, half serious. But, of course [she or he has to pay attention to] the conclusion of the CEPA agreement, which will happen very soon; the establishment of a Turkish cultural center that we have decided; and the development of our new embassy building, which we have also decided. Hopefully, he or she can continue this excellent relationship not only with officials but also businesspeople.

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