Turkiye and Indonesia deepen talks on defence, energy and $10bn trade target

Turkiye and Indonesia have held high-level talks in Jakarta aimed at expanding cooperation across defence, energy, transport, artificial intelligence and the halal sector. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan travelled to the Indonesian capital for the meetings, which also included Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Sugiono. The discussions were presented by both sides as part of a broader effort to strengthen a strategic partnership and raise bilateral trade.

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Fidan met Sugiono on arrival and later held talks with Prabowo, according to the information supplied. In a statement posted after the meetings, Fidan described the discussions as highly productive and said they advanced a wide-ranging agenda shared by the two countries. The talks focused on increasing collaboration in the defence industry, including earlier Turkish involvement in Indonesian procurement programmes and joint development efforts linked to armoured vehicles and drone-related technology.

The economic dimension of the visit centred on a bilateral trade target of $10bn, which the two sides agreed in April last year. That goal remains well above current trade levels. Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency said trade between the two countries rose from $2.1bn in 2023 to nearly $2.4bn in 2024, while Indonesia's trade surplus with Turkiye increased from $940m to almost $1.5bn over the same period.

The figures suggest there is still a significant gap between current commerce and the longer-term target. The talks matter because they bring together two countries seeking to broaden ties beyond conventional diplomacy into practical economic and strategic cooperation. Defence manufacturing, energy security and transport infrastructure were all identified as areas of interest, alongside artificial intelligence and the halal food industry.

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That mix points to a relationship that is being shaped not only by trade, but also by industrial policy and technology transfer. The meeting also reflects the way both governments are trying to turn political goodwill into concrete projects. Turkiye's growing defence sector, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicle systems and armoured vehicle production, has been identified as an area of joint interest.

Indonesia, meanwhile, is looking for infrastructure investment and wider economic partnerships, which helps explain why energy and transport featured prominently in the talks. What remains unclear is whether the Jakarta meetings produced any signed agreements, timelines or new commitments beyond the reaffirmed trade target. It is also not yet clear which specific defence, energy or transport projects may move forward next.

Further statements from either government would be needed to show whether the visit leads to measurable progress on the $10bn goal or on the wider strategic agenda.

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