OPINION: Indonesia's procurement of Turkish fighter jets: A turning point in Türkiye's Asia Anew Initiative

This year, Türkiye and Indonesia celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship. During a visit to Indonesia in February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The leaders convened a high-level strategic cooperation council, a bilateral mechanism for state-level negotiations that resulted in multiple [1] agreements in the fields of energy, health, agriculture, defense, communications, and education. The leaders also agreed to speed up the comprehensive partnership agreement process, aiming for a higher trade volume of $10 billion [2].

Later, in June, the two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale to Indonesia of 48 units [3] of Türkiye's fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN. The agreement was made during the biennial Indo Defense Expo & Forum, which took place in Jakarta. This initiative is seen as part of Indonesia's efforts to diversify its sources for primary defense systems. The expected delivery date for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries is expected within the next 10 years [4].

- Expanding military and industrial collaboration

The KAAN fighter, which is equipped with stealth technology, is expected to enhance Indonesia's air defense capabilities, particularly in light of the escalating air threats from adversarial forces [5] with fifth-generation technology in the Indo-Pacific region. Jakarta and Ankara have a history of engaging in defense collaboration. In the 2010s, the Kaplan MT, a medium-weight tank, was developed through a collaboration between Turkish armored-vehicle manufacturer FNSS and Indonesian state-owned firm PT Pindad. The new fighter jet pact demonstrates the countries' commitment to strengthening their relationship through strategic collaboration. In addition, Erdogan hailed the agreement as the most significant [6] in the history of his nation's defense industry. The agreement between Indonesia's Defense Ministry and the Turkish Defense Industries Secretariat (SSB) is anticipated to broaden the partnership in accordance with their free and active foreign policy and their aim to reduce dependence on China and the United States.

In addition to demonstrating Indonesia's confidence in Türkiye's defense capabilities, the pact also indicated that the two countries have become increasingly close partners. Baykar, a Turkish company that specializes in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has formed a joint venture [7] with Republikorp, Indonesia's foremost defense company, in order to build a drone factory in Indonesia. This partnership was established the same year. Both heads of state were present in February at Bogor Palace in West Java to witness the signing of the agreement.

Türkiye maintains the second-largest permanent military force in NATO and benefits from a robust defense industry. Given his background as a former general and defense minister, President Prabowo's administration is expected to prioritize national defense capabilities. His perspective on the significance of sufficient defense capabilities is in alignment with Türkiye's Asia Anew Initiative, which emphasizes cooperation with its Asian counterparts, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

- Diversifying alliances in a multipolar world

Furthermore, the fact that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become the focal point [8] of global trade and the necessity for Türkiye to diversify its trade have created the potential for even more significant collaboration between the two countries, particularly in defense. For example, Malaysia, another ASEAN member state, has also expressed interest in the KAAN program. Indonesia has the potential to produce a significant air force in Southeast Asia by actively participating in international fighter aircraft programs and diversifying its fleet. Nevertheless, this position can only be attained if the government is able to align its ambitious goals within current fiscal realities, adheres to a consistent investment strategy, and settles on a clear strategic orientation.

Türkiye is likely to find it more convenient to continue implementing its Asia Anew Initiative in ASEAN, as the bloc's economic dynamics are consistent with Ankara's geopolitical objectives. This is likely to lead to stronger ties between the two countries. The broader geopolitical strategy of Türkiye, which is to establish new alliances in a multipolar world as the global economic and political power center shifts toward Asia, can also be interpreted in the context of improved relations with ASEAN. Given the current state of regional security, it is crucial for ASEAN member states to avoid excessive dependence on any major powers. Instead, they should strive to diversify their defense and economic cooperation with middle power countries, such as Türkiye. This is especially important given the current challenges to ASEAN's centrality. Subsequently, the regional bloc's strengthening partnership with Ankara is anticipated to yield favorable results.

The security dynamics of Southeast Asia are significantly shaped by ASEAN, and Türkiye plays a prominent role in both the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. Both parties may benefit from collaboration in regional security dialogues, counterterrorism, and defense.

[1] https://www.tempo.co/foto/arsip/pertemuan-indonesia-turki-hasilkan-13-poin-kerjasama-1206286

[2] https://en.antaranews.com/news/351401/indonesia-turkey-set-us10-billion-bilateral-trade-target

[3] https://www.tempo.co/internasional/erdogan-turki-akan-jual-48-jet-tempur-kaan-ke-indonesia-1674609

[4] https://www.tempo.co/internasional/erdogan-turki-akan-jual-48-jet-tempur-kaan-ke-indonesia-1674609

[5] https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/kaan-fighter-jet-deal-to-accelerate-indonesias-defence-industrial-growth/

[6] https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20250612101536-134-1238888/ri-beli-48-jet-kaan-turki-erdogan-sebut-ekspor-terbesar-dalam-sejarah

[7] https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/indonesia-dan-turki-teken-kerja-sama-pembangunan-pabrik-drone

[8] https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/asia-the-epicenter-of-global-trade-shifts

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Anadolu's editorial policy.​​​​​​​