Cambodia and Türkiye signed a military framework agreement in Istanbul on Friday, advancing defense and security ties between the two countries.
The agreement was signed at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace following bilateral and delegation-level discussions between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed the accord on behalf of Türkiye, while Cambodian Deputy Defense Minister Prak Sovanna represented Cambodia.
At a joint press conference, Erdoğan described Cambodia as a key partner in Southeast Asia and noted that bilateral relations have strengthened considerably in recent years.
Beyond defense cooperation, the two leaders explored ways to deepen bilateral ties in areas including trade, investment, energy, education, and culture. They also reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the $1 billion bilateral trade target set during former Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Türkiye in 2018.
Erdogan noted that the Türkiye-Cambodia Business Forum, held on Friday, would strengthen business collaboration and help accelerate progress toward the trade goal. He also welcomed Cambodia’s interest in Turkish defense equipment, highlighting opportunities to further expand security cooperation.
Addressing the ongoing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, Erdogan called for a peaceful resolution and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for settling the dispute through dialogue and in accordance with international law.
Meanwhile, Manet praised Türkiye’s expanding international role, particularly its diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability.
On economic ties, he encouraged increased Turkish investment in Cambodia, highlighting the country’s potential as a gateway to wider Asian markets through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to working closely with Turkish businesses to boost trade, attract investment, and strengthen private-sector partnerships.
Manet also acknowledged the contributions of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) to Cambodia’s socioeconomic development.
The two leaders also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation through multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and ASEAN, to advance regional stability, connectivity, and shared economic growth. Manet welcomed Türkiye’s growing engagement with ASEAN and called for enhanced cooperation between Türkiye and the regional bloc.
TRADE TECH | China Proposes Export Controls on Solar, AI and Biotechnologies
