Indonesia’s Prabowo, Turkey’s Erdogan comply with bolster ties

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto wave on the media upon Erdogan’s arrival in Indonesia (Picture credit: PTI)

BOGOR: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks Wednesday, signing a sequence of agreements to spice up commerce and defence ties between the Muslim-majority nations, together with a three way partnership to construct drones.
The Turkish chief was visiting Southeast Asia’s largest economic system after travelling to Malaysia and earlier than heading to Pakistan on a four-day tour of key allies within the Islamic world.
He was greeted at a presidential palace in Bogor, a metropolis south of the capital Jakarta, by a conventional marching band, nationwide anthems and schoolchildren waving flags.
“We’re dedicated to rising commerce between the 2 international locations, which is mutually helpful,” Prabowo stated after talks with Erdogan.
“We additionally agree to extend joint manufacturing and cooperation within the defence trade.”
Prabowo stated that would come with joint coaching for troopers and nearer collaboration on counter-terrorism and intelligence.
A dozen agreements on commerce, power, larger training and spiritual affairs have been signed by ministers and officers, together with a deal to fabricate drones in Indonesia, because the pair watched on.
Prabowo earlier referred to as Erdogan “my shut buddy, my brother” after his arrival and stated either side have been additionally making an attempt to speed up the signing of a free commerce settlement.
The leaders held their nations’ first high-level strategic cooperation council assembly earlier than the agreements have been signed.
Erdogan stated the pair talked about international points together with Syria and the Palestinian trigger, alongside future offers searching for to spice up their commerce to $10 billion a 12 months.
Indonesia and Turkey’s commerce in 2024 was value $2.4 billion, in line with Indonesia’s commerce ministry.
The leaders final met in July for talks within the Turkish capital Ankara earlier than then-defence minister Prabowo was formally inaugurated as Indonesia’s president.
Relations between the 2 international locations grew nearer beneath Prabowo’s predecessor Joko Widodo, who paid a state go to to Turkey in 2017.
In 2023, Indonesia bought 12 Turkish drones value round $300 million in a push to improve its ageing army.
Each are members of the 57-member organisation of Islamic Cooperation the place they’re staunch supporters of Palestinians and vocal critics of Israel.