Turkey considers Southeast Asia a strategic priority as it is actively promoting relations with Viet Nam and ASEAN in many areas from defense, economy to political dialogue.

Amid ongoing shifts in the global geopolitical landscape, Turkey is seeking to consolidate its strategic position by expanding relations with dynamic regions, with Southeast Asia identified as a key priority.

With Viet Nam, Turkey has expressed a strong interest in advancing cooperation across a wide spectrum, ranging from trade, investment, science and technology to defense and security. Economically, Viet Nam is regarded as a crucial gateway for Turkey to deepen its engagement with the ASEAN market, while Turkey can serve as a bridge enabling Vietnamese goods and enterprises to access markets in the Middle East and Europe. Notably, during his visit to Hanoi on September 11, 2025, Defense Minister Yasar Guler affirmed Turkey’s readiness to support Viet Nam in modernizing its defense sector, thereby creating opportunities for technical exchanges, training, and collaboration in the defense industry. This not only reflects the growing political trust between the two countries but also marks a strategic step contributing to stability and shared development on both sides.

President Luong Cuong and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler in Viet Nam on September 11, 2025. Photo: TTXVN

Alongside strengthening bilateral relations with ASEAN countries like Viet Nam, Turkey has also placed emphasis on deepening its cooperation with ASEAN. At the 7th Trilateral Meeting on Sectoral Dialogue Partnership between Turkey and ASEAN, held in Kuala Lumpur in July 2025, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored that developing deeper ties with ASEAN carries strategic significance not only in the areas of trade and investment but also in advancing political dialogue and coordinating responses to global challenges. The Turkish Government further affirmed its goal of becoming a full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, rather than remaining at its status as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. 

Another step forward in Turkey–ASEAN economic and trade cooperation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) in October 2024. This agreement is regarded as an important foundation for businesses from both sides to expand trade and investment connections as well as strengthen their partnerships while global supply chains are being reshaped.

With a comprehensive approach spanning diplomacy, security, and economic cooperation, Turkey’s partnerships with Vietnam and ASEAN are expected to further develop in the coming years, making positive contributions to peace, stability, and prosperity both regionally and globally.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam