Deepening Strategic Relationship: High-Level Gathering in Ankara to Boost Ties Between Kazakhstan and Turkey
The fifth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Kazakhstan and Turkey is set to take place, aiming to bolster their strategic partnership and identify new avenues for collaboration.
Key topics on the agenda include the development of the Middle Corridor transport route, modernization of the defense industry, expanding trade and economic ties, investment cooperation, energy collaboration, agriculture, media cooperation, and cultural initiatives. The meeting also involves signing several agreements to strengthen the legal and contractual framework of bilateral relations.
The talks are expected to assess the progress in their enhanced strategic partnership, exchange views on global and regional developments, and focus on boosting political, economic, cultural, and defense ties. The two countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion, up from nearly $5 billion in 2024.
Security and defense cooperation are expected to be key areas of focus, with discussions on military training, defense education, joint production, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism collaboration. The Council session could mark a turning point in the defense relationship.
In the realm of economic cooperation, over 12,000 Kazakh students are currently studying in Turkey, and as of now, 3,538 Turkish companies operate in Kazakhstan. The first four months of 2025 saw Kazakhstan's investment in Turkey reach a record high of $610 million, with 130,000 Turkish tourists visiting Kazakhstan, making Turkey the country's third-largest source of international visitors.
Joint projects between Turkish and Kazakh companies are thriving, with 39 more projects currently underway and 78 joint projects worth over $3 billion already completed. From 2005 to 2024, Turkey invested $5.2 billion in Kazakhstan.
In 2024, more than 863,000 Kazakh citizens visited Turkey, a 4.5% increase from the previous year. The defense cooperation plan between the two countries includes the joint development of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, established in 2012, serves as the central mechanism for high-level bilateral decisions. During the meeting, President Erdogan announced that the Ankara session would include new agreements in the mentioned areas and aims to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion.
The session is set to cover a broader range of topics, including the Middle Corridor, modernization of the defense industry, media cooperation, cultural initiatives, and more. The two countries are working together to strengthen their strategic partnership and foster mutual growth and development.
[1] Source: Official statement from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs [2] Source: Turkish Exporters Assembly [3] Source: Kazakhstan's National Statistics Committee [4] Source: Turkish Statistical Institute [5] Source: Official statement from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Discussions during the fifth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council are likely to delve into the politics of intensifying their strategic partnership and exploring new avenues for general-news cooperation, such as media collaboration and cultural initiatives. The Council's focus on defense and security ties is also expected to involve negotiations on topics like cybersecurity and counterterrorism collaboration.
