Key facts
- Turkey has been granted dialogue partner status by ASEAN.
- The move is expected to enhance defense industry and trade cooperation.
- Turkey's exports to ASEAN grew 17.1% between 2021 and 2025.
- Imports from ASEAN countries increased by 50.7% in the same period.
- Total trade volume between Turkey and ASEAN reached $16.1 billion in 2025.
ASEAN has officially admitted Turkey as its 12th dialogue partner, a significant diplomatic move that highlights the growing defense industry and trade ties between the Southeast Asian bloc and the NATO member. This new status is expected to usher in a new era of cooperation, particularly in trade, economic relations, the defense industry, and energy sectors.
The decision was made at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, the Philippines. The partnership is considered politically and diplomatically important, opening doors to engagement with a region of nearly 700 million people and an economy exceeding $4 trillion.
Trade figures indicate a substantial increase in economic interaction. Turkey's exports to ASEAN member states saw a 17.1% rise from $2.4 billion in 2021 to $2.8 billion in 2025, with $1.2 billion recorded in the first five months of the current year. Imports from ASEAN countries also grew significantly, increasing by 50.7% from $8.8 billion to $13.3 billion over the same period, with approximately $6 billion in the first five months of this year. Consequently, the total trade volume between Turkey and the ASEAN region reached $16.1 billion in 2025.
Key Turkish exports to ASEAN include precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, mineral fuels, and machinery. Singapore emerged as Turkey's largest export destination within ASEAN in 2025, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia. These latter two countries were visited by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last year, during which discussions focused on energy and defense industry cooperation. Turkey's direct investment in ASEAN member states has also seen a notable increase, rising from $106.5 million in 2023 to $410.4 million in 2024.