EMBASSY
Turkey’s Manila gambit
Helicopters, railways, trade. Turkey has been busy in the Philippines. But Manila may not be the real prize.
Turkey is thousands of miles from Southeast Asia. But it wants a bigger role in Asean. The Philippines may be its way in.
Turkey has an economy approaching $1.6 trillion and a defense industry selling weapons around the world.
The Philippines chairs Asean this year, putting Manila at the center of a regional bloc of nearly 700 million people.
For Turkey, a stronger relationship with one country could open doors to 10 others.
Turkey’s interest in the region did not begin this year.
It first sought closer ties with Asean in 1999. After nearly three decades, it finally became the bloc’s 12th dialogue partner in July, joining the US, China, Japan and EU.
The decision was made in Manila, under the Philippine chairmanship.
That same month, Philippine and Turkish officials met with representatives of the Asean secretariat to discuss closer cooperation.
Turkey has already included the Philippines in its Far Countries Strategy, an effort to expand exports beyond its traditional trading partners.
In April, trade officials from both countries met in Istanbul. They discussed opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture, along with Philippine anti-dumping duties on Turkish wheat flour and the accreditation of Turkish poultry products.
Some of Turkey’s business here is already flying.
The Philippine Air Force operates six Turkish-made T129 attack helicopters, bought as part of its military modernization program.
Turkish companies have also entered the country’s railway construction industry.
Since 2014, Turkey has chaired the Independent Decommissioning Body, which oversees the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and weapons under the Mindanao peace process.
Turkey has also participated in international efforts supporting negotiations involving Moro groups.
It is finding other ways to work with Asean.
On 29 July, Turkey’s disaster management agency signed a memorandum of intent with the Asean Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
The two sides agreed to cooperate on disaster preparedness and emergency response, an area of particular importance to countries frequently struck by earthquakes, floods and typhoons.
Except, despite all this activity, the Philippines remains a small part of Turkey’s business in Southeast Asia.
The two countries traded only about $365 million in goods last year, compared with Turkey’s $16.1 billion in trade with Asean.
Turkish officials have raised the possibility of a free trade agreement with Manila, although formal negotiations have yet to begin.
The proposal could be discussed at a joint economic meeting planned for 2027.
In August, the two governments doubled permitted weekly flights between Manila and Istanbul, from seven to 14. They also agreed to allow additional services connecting other Philippine cities with Turkey.
The airlines still have to decide whether demand justifies those flights.
A Turkish trade mission was scheduled for Manila in September, with meetings planned between exporters and Philippine businesses.
Then, on 19 October, the President received Turkey’s new ambassador, Kaan Esener, at Malacañang.
Esener emphasized international law and multilateral cooperation.