BISHKEK: Turkey and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreed to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, boosting defence and economic ties, during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the Central Asian state where he met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
The two countries signed 19 agreements covering various areas including energy, defence, and counter-terrorism. The agreements are part of Turkey’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence across the region to compete with Russia and China.
Kyrgyzstan’s President Japarov expressed optimism about the strengthened partnership, stating, “We have taken an important decision to raise the level of strategic partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey to that of a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership.’”
He emphasized the importance of Turkish-Kyrgyz cooperation in defence and pointed to the potential for further developments in this area. “Kyrgyzstan and Turkey enjoy strong cooperation in the field of defence and has the potential for further development,” he said
Turkey’s recent moves reflect an increased focus on security collaboration with Central Asian nations. Ankara seeks to build closer military ties across the region.
President @RTErdogan, who is in Bishkek for the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, was decorated with the Manas Order by President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan. pic.twitter.com/AYZuVHlWbQ
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) November 5, 2024
Turkey is currently Kyrgyzstan’s third-largest investor, following Russia and China. However, in trade, Turkey accounts for 3.8 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s imports and exports, whereas China and Russia dominate with 34.2 percent and 19.5 percent, respectively.
During his visit, Erdogan also highlighted the significance of regional unity through cultural and historical ties. He is scheduled to attend a summit of the Organisation of Turkic States on Wednesday, a Turkish-led initiative aimed at fostering closer ties among Turkic-speaking countries.
