With a historic decision adopted at the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Türkiye has been elevated to the status of “Dialogue Partner” of ASEAN effective July 21, 2026. This development is seen as one of the most tangible achievements of Türkiye’s “Asia Anew Initiative” launched in 2019. With this decision, relations between Türkiye and ASEAN countries are expected to deepen across a wide range of areas, from security to trade, supply chain security to the defense industry, and cultural diplomacy.
In this context, the Ankara Center for Crisis and Political Studies (ANKASAM) presents for your consideration the views of leading experts and academics in the field, gathered to assess Türkiye-ASEAN relations and the concrete achievements of the “Asia Anew Initiative”
ANKASAM Asia-Pacific Advisor and TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Ali Oğuz DİRİÖZ: “The Dialogue Partnership Is Not a Destination, but a Strategic Starting Point.”
Associate Professor Dr. Ali Oğuz Diriöz, noting that this development, announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, has elevated Türkiye to the highest position immediately following membership status, stated that this step, which might appear to be a technical diplomatic promotion, was in fact driven by many different factors. In this context, Diriöz highlighted the new momentum in Türkiye-U.S. relations, the maturation of a 16-year economic partnership, and the transformation of the “Asia Anew Initiative” into a systematic foreign policy vision.![Doç. Dr. Ali Oğuz DİRİÖZ - commonhorizonkapadokya]()
Noting that Türkiye’s designation as ASEAN’s new dialogue partner marks a moment where a short-term diplomatic success intersects with a long-term structural trend, Diriöz stated that short-term shocks such as the NATO Summit and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis have reaffirmed Türkiye’s regional credibility, however, he noted that a 16-year commercial partnership, the political capital accumulated within the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore triangle, and long-term processes such as the “Asia Anew Initiative” have transformed this credibility into an institutional status.
Noting that it was no coincidence that this development coincided with a period in which Ankara reaffirmed its position within the Western alliance, Diriöz stated that reliability and predictability are of the utmost importance in a partnership based on dialogue. Looking to the future, Diriöz said, “Ultimately, the partnership for dialogue is not a destination, but a starting point that will gain meaning only if it is approached with the right tools.”
The Director of the ASEAN Application and Research Center at Ankara University of Social Sciences (ASBÜ), Assoc. Prof. Hatice ÇELİK: “An Institutional Turning Point in the ‘Asia Anew’ Vision: A Concrete Reflection of a Multidimensional Foreign Policy”
Noting that Türkiye’s attainment of ASEAN Dialogue Partner status represents one of the most significant institutional achievements of its outreach to Asia, carried out under the “Asia Anew Initiative” announced in August 2019, Assoc. Prof. Hatice Çelik stated that this decision marks a major milestone demonstrating that Türkiye has been recognized by ASEAN as a reliable and long-term partner. Noting that this development does not signify a geopolitical shift, Çelik said the process reflects Türkiye’s commitment to pursuing a multidimensional foreign policy by strengthening ties with one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Emphasizing that Türkiye has long-standing historical ties with Asia-Pacific countries, Çelik noted that the goal is to further deepen political, economic, and sociocultural relations with this region, which has gained increasing influence in the international system following the Cold War.
Noting that Türkiye’s status as ASEAN’s 12th Dialogue Partner has enhanced its international visibility, Çelik stated that this status has established a solid foundation for relations through regular ministerial meetings, high-level official meetings, expert group activities, joint cooperation mechanisms, and the implementation of cooperation plans within an institutional framework. This grants Türkiye a much stronger say in shaping the future agenda. Emphasizing that mutual trust with Southeast Asia has strengthened, Çelik stated that this step is not a choice that replaces other partnerships, but rather a concrete reflection of Türkiye’s strategy to diversify its engagement in a multipolar international order.
Kütahya Dumlupınar University, Asst. Prof. Barış ADIBELLİ: “From the Role of Observer to Institutional Engagement: A Significant Step in Defense Cooperation”
Noting that Türkiye has been an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 2017 and that on July 21, 2026, ASEAN took this status a step further by elevating Türkiye to the level of Dialogue Partner, Asst. Prof. Barış Adıbelli stated that Türkiye’s increased visibility within ASEAN essentially emerged (ADMM). Adıbelli noted that Türkiye and Germany were accepted as observers for the 2024–2027 period, adding, “This status is not the same as ASEAN membership or full dialogue partnership, it refers to a more limited form of participation tied to a specific security forum.”
Adıbelli, emphasizing that from a geopolitical perspective, the observer role serves as a confidence-building measure, noted that this situation allows Türkiye to participate in ASEAN-related defense talks without assuming deeper institutional obligations. Adıbelli also stated that this demonstrates that ASEAN members are open to viewing Türkiye as an extra-regional but relevant security actor in Southeast Asia.
Noting that observer status is consistent with Türkiye’s broader Asia strategy, particularly the “Asia Anew Initiative” which Ankara has defined as a framework for deeper engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, Adıbelli said, “Ankara has also emphasized ASEAN’s strategic importance due to its population, role in trade, and maritime geography, which has made observer access diplomatically valuable even prior to the status upgrade in 2026.”
Adıbelli emphasized that Türkiye’s observer status, which determines its position within ASEAN diplomacy, is limited, particularly in terms of defense cooperation, yet serves as a meaningful stepping stone. Adıbelli added that, from an institutional perspective, Türkiye’s position has now moved beyond this stage, noting that ASEAN decided on July 21, 2026, to establish a Dialogue Partnership with Türkiye, and that this status represents a level beyond observer participation.
Kırıkkale University, Res. Asst. Dr. Mehmet Gökhan ÖZDEMİR: “The Dialogue Partnership Has the Potential to Evolve into A Resilient Axis of Solidarity That Expands the Global South’s Room for Maneuver.”
Dr. Mehmet Gökhan Özdemir, who views Türkiye’s admission as a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN as an institutional manifestation of its strategic opening toward Asia, noted that the decision is a concrete outcome of the Asia Anew Initiative. Özdemir said, “This development confirms Türkiye’s determination to become a more active, visible, and multifaceted actor in Asia-Pacific geopolitics.”
Noting that the new level of relations offers Türkiye opportunities for both economic cooperation and political dialogue, Özdemir emphasized that, during this period of reshaping global supply chains, Ankara’s “Middle Corridor” vision provides a vital geo-economic foundation for the ties to be established with ASEAN. Özdemir noted that for these gains to be sustainable, the process must be transformed into institutional mechanisms and sectoral cooperation.
Noting that ASEAN’s quest for autonomy in the face of U.S.-China competition and Türkiye’s balancing foreign policy create a natural synergy, Özdemir stated, “This dialogue partnership has the potential to evolve into a resilient axis of solidarity that expands the Global South’s room for maneuver within the international system through the defense industry, energy security, and alternative logistics networks.”
Prepared by:
Ada AKPINAR
Ceren Sümeyye AKIN
İklim KAMA
