ANWAR’S TURKIYE VISIT MARKS STRATEGIC RECALIBRATION IN BILATERAL TIES - ISIS MALAYSIA CHAIRMAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent three-day official visit to Turkiye has marked a significant strategic recalibration in Malaysia-Turkiye relations.

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia chairman Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah said the visit has elevated bilateral ties to a more structured, long-term partnership anchored in mutual interests and shared global perspectives.

He said the visit also underscored Malaysia’s intent to deepen cooperation with Turkiye across key sectors, including trade, defence, security, technology and governance, while maintaining Malaysia’s long-standing foreign policy of active non-alignment and balanced relations with major powers.

“To be sure, it is not a shift away from Malaysia’s foreign policy of active non-alignment, as was made clear by Anwar’s articulation of balanced relations with the United States and China, while deepening ties with Turkiye,” he said in a statement to Bernama.

Mohd Faiz said a key outcome of the visit was the establishment of the Malaysia-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which formalises bilateral engagement at the highest level and signals a transition from ad hoc cooperation to a more predictable and institutionalised strategic partnership.

He said from the prism of bilateral trade, Malaysia and Turkiye have set an ambitious trajectory, targeting USD10 billion in 2026, a major surge from the USD4.92 billion recorded between January and November 2025.

“The growth is expected to be driven by high-value sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres, energy, advanced electrical and electronics, agri-commodities, halal food products and rare earths from Malaysia.

“On Turkiye’s side, there is advanced defence manufacturing, automotive and construction, research and development, higher education, and industrial design,” he said while emphasising Anwar’s decades-long friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mohd Faiz said he is confident that, with the HLSCC, defence procurements, and other agreements, Malaysia already has the mechanisms in place to explore further avenues to double trade volume.

“Although a formidable challenge to take on, the USD10 billion target is not a pipe dream,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Faiz said defence cooperation is a key growth area, including opportunities for technology transfer, joint production and procurement, noting that Turkiye’s expanding defence exports could further strengthen bilateral security ties.

Beyond trade and defence, he said Malaysia and Turkiye share common positions on global issues such as respect for sovereignty, justice under international law, sustainable development and climate change, as well as opposition to the selective application of human rights.

On the growing role of Track Two diplomacy, he cited the memorandum of understanding signed between ISIS Malaysia and Turkiye’s leading think tank, SETA (Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research), to enhance collaboration in strategic research, policy dialogue and expert exchanges.

Mohd Faiz said Anwar’s public lecture titled ‘Power Shift: Strategic Choices for Malaysia and Turkiye’ reflected the alignment of both countries on key international issues, including the need to uphold fairness, accountability and the rule of law in global affairs.

Overall, the visit represents a strategic reset in Malaysia-Turkiye relations, laying a strong foundation for sustained geopolitical and geo-economic cooperation that will benefit both countries over the long term, he said.

-- BERNAMA