President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan: A new chapter in strategic relations

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Since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing for his official visit to Pakistan on February 12, 2025, the two countries are ready to identify an important milestone in their long -standing partnership. Although their diplomatic relations have grown over the past years, the volume of bilateral trade between Turkey and Pakistan is surprisingly low, which is about $ 1.3 billion. In view of the extensive potential for economic cooperation, the visit is being seen as an important opportunity to advance concrete results in important areas of bilateral interest.

Increasing economic relations: Billion to target 5 billion trade

One of the main purpose of President Erdogan’s visit is to remove the stagnation in trade and work annually Bilter 5 billion trade to achieve the goal of 5 billion. This ambitious target will be achieved through the expansion of the Strategic Economic Framework (SEF), which has already laid the foundation for strong economic relations. An important topic of debate will be to eliminate current trade barriers and increase trade flow through new agreements and measures.

Particularly notable Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2022, which was implemented in May 2023. The purpose of this deal is to offer priority taxes, which is to make goods more competitive in each other’s markets. Along with the PTA, Turkey has proposed a Million 350 million credit facility to help fund the fund projects, which will further strengthen economic relations.

In addition, Turkish business delegates are visiting Pakistan to seek investment opportunities in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure and manufacturing. The purpose of these efforts is to remove the obstacles to investment and encourage Turkish businesses to engage more actively with Pakistan’s rapidly developing economy.

Defense Cooperation: Strengthening regional stability

Another important sector of attention during President Erdogan’s visit is to deepen defense and security cooperation. In recent years, Turkey and Pakistan have permanently established close ties in the defense sector with a joint commitment to tackle terrorism and extremism in the region. The growing defense cooperation also works not only to improve military capabilities but also to promote closer strategic alignment between the two countries. Since both countries face regional security threats, especially militant organizations, the visit is expected to further strengthen intelligence sharing efforts and military cooperation. Tourke’s active approach to defense relations with Pakistan is also interested in shared historical bonds and stability. Wider region. This defense partnership is particularly important because Turkey wants to increase its influence in the Muslim world and global security debates, offering modern defense technologies, including drones and military hardware.

Cultural and educational relations: Build strong contacts from people to people:

Beyond trade and defense, Erdogan’s visit is ready to deepen cultural and educational exchange. With the sharing of a rich cultural and religious heritage in both countries, more and more people will be trying to promote public relations. With mutual cooperation, there are only a few steps in educational projects, students’ exchange programs and cultural exhibitions that will likely be explored to further strengthen the mutual understanding between the people of Turkey and Pakistan.

Turkey’s growing diplomatic influence:

A global context comes at a time when Turkey has been claiming itself as an important player in international diplomacy. Turkey’s recent diplomatic achievements, including facilitating peace talks between Ethiopia and Somalia, and offering regional cooperation efforts to tackle terrorism, have promoted their status globally. These achievements not only reinforce Turkey’s image as a stable force in regional conflicts, but also reinforce the importance of strengthening relations with strategic partners like Pakistan.

President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan is expected to work as a catalyst for a new era in bilateral relations. From economic cooperation to defense and cultural exchange, the visit will undoubtedly lay the foundation for a stronger and diverse partnership between the two countries. By removing long -term trade barriers and establishing a deep alliance in critical areas, both Turkey and Pakistan aim to counter a course towards the future of shared prosperity and security.

To summarize, this visit will not only increase Turkish -Pakistan relations in various fields, but will also have a clear moment in the broader context of Turkey’s global diplomatic ambitions. With high hopes for a $ 5 billion trade target and a deep strategic partnership, President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan is ready to provide sustainable benefits to the two countries.

Author is Assistant Professor – Faculty of Economics – Istanbul University, President of Pakistan -Traffic’s Friendship Association.