Türkiye courts ASEAN allies for Palestinian cause in Malaysia visit

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced Tuesday their joint initiative to mobilize ASEAN nations in support of Gaza while pledging to double bilateral trade between the two countries to $10 billion.

During a joint press conference in Malaysia’s Putrajaya, Erdogan expressed optimism about coordinating humanitarian assistance through ASEAN members. “If all ASEAN members join hands together, we can overcome this,” Erdogan said, referring to aid efforts for Gaza.

President Erdogan emphasized that a lasting solution must include “the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.” He also called for Israel to “end its occupation of Palestinian lands and compensate for the damage it has caused.”

ASEAN countries to mobilize for Gaza reconstruction efforts

Prime Minister Ibrahim, who currently holds significant influence within ASEAN, pledged to leverage Malaysia’s position to mobilize regional support. “You can be assured that during Malaysia’s chairmanship, we will mobilize ASEAN countries on this matter,” Ibrahim said, referring to Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.

Ibrahim praised Türkiye’s humanitarian response to the crisis, stating, “Türkiye has shown leadership on the Gaza issue. I don’t know of any other country that has done as much as Türkiye in terms of humanitarian aid.”

However, the Malaysian leader expressed skepticism about immediate progress toward a ceasefire, citing ongoing tensions. “How can progress be made while colonial occupation continues?” Ibrahim asked, referring to what he described as “Israel’s aggressive and expansionist policies.”

The meeting also yielded significant bilateral outcomes, with both leaders announcing plans to increase trade volume between Türkiye and Malaysia from $5 billion to $10 billion, though no specific timeline was provided for achieving this target.

Ibrahim hailed Erdogan’s regional influence, describing him as “the leader of the Muslim world, a defender of justice and human rights,” adding that Malaysia was “fortunate” to host him.