Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday in Jakarta for high-level talks aimed at deepening economic and defense ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

The meeting marked the first session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), a forum established following an agreement during a 2022 meeting in Bali.

Erdogan’s state visit to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is part of a four-day diplomatic tour that also includes Malaysia and Pakistan. The Turkish leader arrived in Jakarta late Tuesday, welcomed by Subianto at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport despite light rain. The two leaders rode together in a motorcade to Erdogan’s hotel, signaling the warm relations between the nations.

“This meeting is the highest regular bilateral forum between the two countries where all matters of common interest will be discussed, including strategic issues and priorities,” said Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Rolliansyah Soemirat ahead of the visit. A Turkish statement highlighted that the discussions would focus on regional and global issues, particularly the ongoing war in Gaza.

Erdogan, who met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday, reiterated his opposition to a U.S. proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, stating, “We do not consider the proposal to exile the Palestinians from the lands they have lived in for thousands of years as something to be taken seriously.” He also emphasized that Israel should bear the cost of Gaza’s reconstruction.

Indonesia and Türkiye have built increasingly close relations in recent years, with defense cooperation at the forefront. The two nations signed a defense agreement in 2010, leading to joint projects such as the development of a medium tank by Indonesia’s state-run arms producer Pindad and Türkiye’s FNSS. In 2023, they inked a plan of action for joint military exercises and further defense industry collaboration.

Subianto, who previously met Erdogan in Ankara last July when he was president-elect and defense minister, pledged to “elevate defense cooperation and other strategic fields for mutual benefit.” During Wednesday’s talks, the leaders are expected to sign agreements on trade, investment, education, and technology, further solidifying bilateral ties. Türkiye already has HLSCC forums with 21 other countries, including Pakistan, Erdogan’s next stop.

On Wednesday, Erdogan will travel to Islamabad, where he and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the Pakistan-Türkiye Business and Investment Forum and attend another HLSCC meeting.

The summit underscores the strategic importance of Türkiye-Indonesia relations, with both nations seeking to enhance cooperation amid global challenges. Erdogan’s visit, accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdogan, highlights the personal and diplomatic bonds between the leaders, who share a commitment to advancing mutual interests in defense, trade, and regional stability.

As the two countries deepen their partnership, the outcomes of the HLSCC summit and upcoming agreements are expected to pave the way for expanded collaboration in the years ahead. (ILKHA)