Türkiye, Cambodia Sign Military Pact, Eye USD1B Trade Goal
(MENAFN) Türkiye and Cambodia signed a Military Framework Agreement on Friday, capping talks in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to deepen defense, trade and political ties.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed for Türkiye, and Deputy Defense Minister Prak Sovanna signed for Cambodia, with both leaders present.
The two leaders spoke at a joint news conference at Dolmabahce Palace after one-on-one and delegation-level meetings. Erdogan called Cambodia a key Southeast Asian partner and noted that relations have accelerated in recent years.
“We see Cambodia, with which our relations have developed rapidly particularly in recent years, as an important partner in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Erdogan said the two sides reviewed their relationship in detail. He recalled that during a 2018 visit to Türkiye by then-Prime Minister Hun Sen, both countries agreed to work toward $1 billion in bilateral trade.
“Our efforts to achieve this target are still continuing,” Erdogan said. He voiced hope that a Türkiye-Cambodia Business Forum held earlier Friday would bring the two countries’ business communities closer.
The talks also covered investment, energy, education, culture and the defense industry. Erdogan welcomed Cambodia’s interest in Turkish defense products and said cooperation in the sector has significant potential.
“God willing, we will further develop our cooperation with them,” he said.
He credited projects run in Cambodia by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Yunus Emre Institute with strengthening people-to-people ties.
“We support the education of Cambodian students through the Türkiye Scholarships program,” he added.
On global affairs, Erdogan said Turkish-Cambodian cooperation supports broader efforts to promote peace, stability and prosperity. He welcomed Cambodia’s participation as a founding member of the Board of Peace.
“Cambodia’s participation ... is highly welcome. I believe they will continue to contribute to efforts based on a two-state solution in Palestine,” he said.
Erdogan also addressed the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, saying Türkiye hopes it will be settled through dialogue and peaceful means under international law. “We continue to support civilians affected by the clashes,” he said.
Türkiye has so far delivered aid to more than 3,000 people in coordination with Cambodian authorities, he said, adding that “we will continue our humanitarian assistance.”
Cambodian premier lauds Türkiye’s peace role
Manet highlighted Türkiye’s expanding influence in regional and global affairs and the growing breadth of bilateral cooperation.
“Türkiye’s proactive and constructive engagement in international efforts to promote peace and stability, including in the Middle East, is commendable,” Manet said at the news conference.
He praised Türkiye’s development, its strengthening national identity and its strategic autonomy. He noted that the two countries have kept friendly, productive relations for more than six decades, and said his visit opened a new chapter.
Manet said the leaders held wide-ranging talks on the state of ties, shared priorities and future cooperation.
“We have taken concrete steps to strengthen our cooperation in the political, defense and security fields. Indeed, today we signed a military framework agreement, marking a very important step in this direction,” he said.
The two sides also reaffirmed strong potential to expand trade, ease investment and build private-sector partnerships, Manet said. He added that Cambodia, through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, is ready to serve Turkish businesses as a strategic gateway to wider Asian markets.
He thanked TIKA for supporting Cambodia’s socioeconomic development, including infrastructure, women’s empowerment and capacity-building programs for Cambodian Muslim women.
Manet said Cambodia places great importance on expanding cooperation with Türkiye in tourism, education and cultural exchange.
He said the leaders also stressed joint work through the UN, ASEAN and other regional and international platforms. Manet congratulated Türkiye on becoming an ASEAN dialogue partner and said Cambodia looks forward to deeper cooperation between Türkiye and the bloc to advance regional integration, connectivity and shared prosperity.
Manet also invited Erdogan to visit Cambodia.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed for Türkiye, and Deputy Defense Minister Prak Sovanna signed for Cambodia, with both leaders present.
The two leaders spoke at a joint news conference at Dolmabahce Palace after one-on-one and delegation-level meetings. Erdogan called Cambodia a key Southeast Asian partner and noted that relations have accelerated in recent years.
“We see Cambodia, with which our relations have developed rapidly particularly in recent years, as an important partner in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Erdogan said the two sides reviewed their relationship in detail. He recalled that during a 2018 visit to Türkiye by then-Prime Minister Hun Sen, both countries agreed to work toward $1 billion in bilateral trade.
“Our efforts to achieve this target are still continuing,” Erdogan said. He voiced hope that a Türkiye-Cambodia Business Forum held earlier Friday would bring the two countries’ business communities closer.
The talks also covered investment, energy, education, culture and the defense industry. Erdogan welcomed Cambodia’s interest in Turkish defense products and said cooperation in the sector has significant potential.
“God willing, we will further develop our cooperation with them,” he said.
He credited projects run in Cambodia by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Yunus Emre Institute with strengthening people-to-people ties.
“We support the education of Cambodian students through the Türkiye Scholarships program,” he added.
On global affairs, Erdogan said Turkish-Cambodian cooperation supports broader efforts to promote peace, stability and prosperity. He welcomed Cambodia’s participation as a founding member of the Board of Peace.
“Cambodia’s participation ... is highly welcome. I believe they will continue to contribute to efforts based on a two-state solution in Palestine,” he said.
Erdogan also addressed the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, saying Türkiye hopes it will be settled through dialogue and peaceful means under international law. “We continue to support civilians affected by the clashes,” he said.
Türkiye has so far delivered aid to more than 3,000 people in coordination with Cambodian authorities, he said, adding that “we will continue our humanitarian assistance.”
Cambodian premier lauds Türkiye’s peace role
Manet highlighted Türkiye’s expanding influence in regional and global affairs and the growing breadth of bilateral cooperation.
“Türkiye’s proactive and constructive engagement in international efforts to promote peace and stability, including in the Middle East, is commendable,” Manet said at the news conference.
He praised Türkiye’s development, its strengthening national identity and its strategic autonomy. He noted that the two countries have kept friendly, productive relations for more than six decades, and said his visit opened a new chapter.
Manet said the leaders held wide-ranging talks on the state of ties, shared priorities and future cooperation.
“We have taken concrete steps to strengthen our cooperation in the political, defense and security fields. Indeed, today we signed a military framework agreement, marking a very important step in this direction,” he said.
The two sides also reaffirmed strong potential to expand trade, ease investment and build private-sector partnerships, Manet said. He added that Cambodia, through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, is ready to serve Turkish businesses as a strategic gateway to wider Asian markets.
He thanked TIKA for supporting Cambodia’s socioeconomic development, including infrastructure, women’s empowerment and capacity-building programs for Cambodian Muslim women.
Manet said Cambodia places great importance on expanding cooperation with Türkiye in tourism, education and cultural exchange.
He said the leaders also stressed joint work through the UN, ASEAN and other regional and international platforms. Manet congratulated Türkiye on becoming an ASEAN dialogue partner and said Cambodia looks forward to deeper cooperation between Türkiye and the bloc to advance regional integration, connectivity and shared prosperity.
Manet also invited Erdogan to visit Cambodia.
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