Turkish President Erdogan to Visit Pakistan for Strategic Cooperation Talks
ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day visit, during which he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-chair the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) session. The meeting aims to enhance bilateral ties across various sectors.
This visit marks the final stop in President Erdogan’s international tour, which also included Malaysia and Indonesia.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the Turkish president will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials, and corporate leaders. During his stay from February 12 to 13, he and PM Shehbaz will lead the 7th session of the HLSCC.
The last HLSCC session took place in Islamabad on February 13-14, 2020. As the highest decision-making platform between Pakistan and Turkiye, the council provides strategic direction for strengthening bilateral relations. It operates through multiple Joint Standing Committees (JSCs) covering key sectors such as trade, investment, banking, finance, defense, energy, agriculture, IT, health, and education.
Expanding Economic and Trade Ties
During Erdogan’s visit, both countries are expected to finalize agreements to enhance economic cooperation, particularly in trade and investment. Officials have developed plans to increase bilateral trade from $1 billion to $5 billion, with new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) focused on trade liberalization, investment facilitation, and reducing non-tariff barriers.
Strengthening Defense Cooperation
Defense ties remain a crucial aspect of Pakistan-Turkiye relations. According to a 2023 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Turkiye is Pakistan’s second-largest arms supplier, contributing 11% of the country’s total arms imports. The defense partnership has strengthened through joint projects such as the MILGEM warships, aircraft modernization, and drone acquisitions.
Both nations have historically faced arms embargoes from Western suppliers, prompting them to invest in indigenous defense production. With Turkiye emerging as a significant arms exporter, Pakistan is viewed as a strategic partner for co-production and technology transfer. The visit is expected to include discussions on military cooperation, joint training programs, and defense manufacturing agreements.
Geopolitical and Regional Cooperation
Erdogan’s visit comes at a time when Turkiye is expanding its regional influence, particularly following geopolitical shifts in the Middle East after the decline of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. This evolving landscape presents new strategic and economic opportunities for Pakistan, including potential collaboration in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction and counter-terrorism efforts.
Turkiye has been a strong advocate for Muslim causes, particularly in Palestine and Kashmir, aligning with Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities. The two leaders are expected to discuss regional security, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and broader political coordination on international platforms.
Advancing the Strategic Economic Framework
With both nations keen to expand their Strategic Economic Framework (SEF), negotiations are expected to cover digital trade, trade liberalization, and further tariff concessions under the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA). The Foreign Office is finalizing a roadmap to enhance economic and trade collaboration, which may include expanding the current 71-point SEF action plan to incorporate investment, IT partnerships, and infrastructure development.
As Turkiye strengthens its regional presence, its partnership with Pakistan gains further significance. Opportunities for joint economic ventures in Syria, enhanced political coordination, and deeper defense collaboration underscore the strengthening strategic ties. With Turkiye’s growing influence in the Middle East, Pakistan stands to benefit from increased trade, investment, and diplomatic alignment with Ankara.
“The visit of the Turkish President and the 7th session of the HLSCC will further deepen the brotherly relations and enhance multifaceted cooperation between the two countries,” the Foreign Office stated.