On July 21, 2026, Turkey was upgraded to dialogue partner status by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), breaking a moratorium on new partners that had been in place since the United Kingdom's admission in 2021. This move positions Turkey alongside major global players such as the US, China, Russia, Britain, Australia, Japan, and South Korea as a key interlocutor with the Southeast Asian bloc.

Turkey’s relationship with ASEAN began in 2010 with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and progressed to sectoral dialogue partner status in 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted the growth in cooperation, noting that trade volume with ASEAN members has increased from US$6.5 billion to US$16 billion since 2010.

“We believe that our political and economic cooperation with the ASEAN region, which has a population of around 700 million and an economy exceeding US$4 trillion, will deepen even further,” Fidan said in a social media post on the day of the upgrade.

Analysts view Turkey’s ascension as part of its broader ambition to establish itself as a middle power. The country maintains strong trade relations with several ASEAN members, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.

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