Erdogan Calls Prabowo to Discuss Defence Cooperation and Diplomacy
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned President Prabowo Subianto at a time when Jakarta-Ankara relations are entering an increasingly strategic phase. Beyond trade, Erdogan specifically highlighted the strengthening of defence industry cooperation and the importance of maintaining solidarity between the two nations in international forums.
During the conversation, Erdogan and Prabowo discussed Indonesia-Turkey bilateral relations as well as various regional and global issues.
Erdogan emphasised the importance of increasing cooperation across various sectors, particularly in trade and the defence industry. The Turkish President also stated that Ankara will continue to take steps to strengthen this partnership.
“Erdogan conveyed the importance of increasing cooperation in various fields, especially trade and the defence industry between Turkey and Indonesia, and emphasised that Turkey will continue to take steps in that direction,” according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office on Monday (2 latter 2026).
The emphasis on the defence industry represents one of the most strategic aspects of the communication.
In recent years, Turkey has developed an increasingly robust and export-oriented defence industry. Turkish defence products have become an essential component of Ankara’s economic diplomacy with various countries.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is pushing to strengthen its national defence industry and expand cooperation with international partners. Consequently, cooperation with Turkey could encompass long-term interests beyond the mere procurement of main weapon systems, including industrial capacity development and technological cooperation.
As the largest nation in Southeast Asia and one of the largest Muslim-majority countries in the world, Indonesia holds significant weight in Turkish diplomacy, as Ankara seeks to expand its influence and partnership networks beyond its immediate region.
In his conversation with Prabowo, Erdogan specifically expressed his satisfaction with the solidarity shown by Indonesia and Turkey in various international forums.