Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Pakistan on February 12, 2025, for a two-day visit aimed at further enhancing the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Turkiye. This visit is part of a broader three-nation tour that includes Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Turkish President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, which includes government ministers, senior officials, and corporate leaders, according to a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office. The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, energy, and technology.
Erdogan last visited Pakistan on a two-day visit in February 2020.
Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation
During the visit, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-chair the 7th session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), the premier platform for fostering high-level dialogue and strategic cooperation. At the conclusion of the session, a Joint Declaration is anticipated, alongside the signing of several key agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
A major highlight of the visit will be a joint press stakeout between the two leaders, offering an opportunity for both to address the media and the international community on the progress made during the discussions.
In addition to the HLSCC session, President Erdogan will also hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Sharif and Pakistan’s former President Asif Ali Zardari.
President Asif Ali Zardari just met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 10 during a brief stopover at Istanbul airport, while the president was en route to Portugal. President Zardari was in Lisbon to offer condolences to Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini following the death of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan.
Pakistan-Turkiye Business and Investment Forum
Together with Prime Minister Sharif, Erdogan will address the Pakistan-Turkiye Business and Investment Forum, an important gathering aimed at boosting economic exchanges and fostering investment between the two nations.
The HLSCC, which has previously held six sessions, serves as the highest decision-making body for strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The council covers a wide range of sectors, including trade, finance, agriculture, defense, tourism, and education, with numerous Joint Standing Committees (JSCs) established to focus on these areas.
This visit builds on a foundation of fraternal ties that have existed between Pakistan and Turkiye for decades, marked by increasing collaboration in various fields, including defense. Notably, Turkiye has provided Pakistan with naval vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of the MILGEM project, reflecting the growing defense cooperation between the two nations.
Erdogan’s visit underscores the significant and evolving partnership between the two countries, which has been particularly solidified during his tenure as President. The visit also marks a continuation of Turkiye’s Asia Anew initiative, which seeks to strengthen Ankara’s ties with key Asian nations, including Pakistan. Discussions on important global issues including the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, the situation in Syria, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, are also expected.