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What Message Did the Turkish Foreign Minister Leave Behind?

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What Message Did the Turkish Foreign Minister Leave Behind?

Three New Frameworks Signal a New Phase in Dhaka-Ankara Relations




1. Three new institutional frameworks, including annual “2+2 Dialogues,” were announced.
2. Ankara aims to institutionalize political, defense and strategic cooperation with Bangladesh.
3. Turkey increasingly views Bangladesh as a key partner under its Asia Anew initiative.

In December 2020, then Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited Dhaka, a trip that took place just before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted global diplomacy. Reflecting on the significance of that visit, Turkey’s foreign ministry quoted Çavuşoğlu as saying, “Bangladesh is one of South Asia’s rising stars and a crucial partner in our Asia Anew initiative.”

Six years later, Turkey’s current foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, arrived in Bangladesh carrying a similar message—one reinforced with concrete proposals aimed at elevating bilateral ties.

During his three-day visit, Fidan held talks with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The visit culminated in the announcement of three new mechanisms designed to strengthen relations between the two countries.

The initiatives include annual “2+2 Dialogues” involving the foreign and defence ministers of both countries, the elevation of annual foreign ministry consultations to the ministerial level, and the creation of a consultative committee under the foreign ministry to deepen political, economic and strategic cooperation.

Bangladesh Joins an Exclusive Group

The “2+2 Dialogue” format is widely used among major and emerging powers to discuss foreign policy, defence and security issues at the highest levels. Turkey currently maintains regular dialogues under this framework with the United States, Japan, the Netherlands and India. Bangladesh has now become the fifth country to be included in this group.

Turkey also conducts similar consultations with Ukraine and Indonesia, though less frequently.

Diplomatic observers believe the new frameworks indicate that Ankara no longer wants to limit relations with Dhaka to trade and development cooperation. Instead, Turkey is seeking to establish a more comprehensive and institutionalised partnership that incorporates security, defence and strategic collaboration.

Understanding Turkey’s Asia Anew Initiative

According to Turkey’s foreign ministry, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched the Asia Anew initiative in August 2019 to strengthen Turkey’s engagement with Asian countries across political, economic, cultural, educational and strategic sectors.

The initiative reflects Ankara’s assessment that the centre of global economic and geopolitical influence is steadily shifting toward Asia. Its goal is to make Turkey’s relations with Asian countries more structured, sustainable and strategic through regional and country-specific approaches.

One of its central objectives is to increase trade, investment and economic cooperation based on mutual interests.

The Four Pillars of Turkey’s Asia Strategy

Turkey’s Asia policy rests on four major pillars:

  1. Strengthening government-to-government cooperation.

  2. Expanding trade, investment and private-sector partnerships.

  3. Enhancing collaboration in education, science and technology.

  4. Promoting cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity.

As part of this vision, Ankara is looking to increase bilateral trade with Bangladesh from approximately US$1.3 billion to US$2 billion.

Speaking in Dhaka, Hakan Fidan emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, particularly the defence industry.

The Asia Anew initiative also prioritises collaboration in technology-driven industries, tourism, infrastructure, transportation, logistics, green energy and sustainable development.

Turkey’s Asia engagement extends across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Central Asia and the Pacific, covering countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, China, Japan and South Korea.

Why Bangladesh Matters

For Bangladesh, the Asia Anew initiative has become an increasingly significant platform for advancing ties with Turkey.

In recent years, both countries have focused on expanding cooperation in defence, trade and investment, infrastructure development, higher education, technology and innovation, the blue economy and maritime affairs.

Following bilateral talks in Dhaka, Fidan stated that Turkey remains committed to deepening its longstanding partnership with Bangladesh and elevating relations to a stronger and more forward-looking level.

From Bilateral Cooperation to Strategic Partnership

Turkey is increasingly viewing Bangladesh not simply as a bilateral partner but as a strategic one.

The introduction of a “2+2 Dialogue” mechanism is particularly significant because such arrangements are generally reserved for countries with which security and defence cooperation has substantial potential or importance.

By bringing foreign and defence ministers together under a single institutional framework, Ankara is signalling its intention to broaden relations beyond traditional economic and development cooperation to include security and geopolitical dimensions.

Turkey also appears determined to ensure that the relationship becomes more durable and less dependent on individual leaders or political administrations. The annual ministerial meetings and newly established consultative committee are intended to provide continuity, structure and long-term momentum.

Bangladesh’s Growing Strategic Importance

Bangladesh’s strategic significance to Turkey has increased considerably in recent years.

Alongside India, Bangladesh has emerged as one of South Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Its location on the Bay of Bengal, growing regional influence and important role within the Muslim world have enhanced its geopolitical relevance.

As a result, under the Asia Anew initiative, Turkey now attaches greater importance to Bangladesh than at any previous point in their bilateral relationship.

According to ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), the three new frameworks agreed during Hakan Fidan’s visit have the potential to add an entirely new dimension to Dhaka-Ankara relations.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Muniruzzaman said attention will now shift to the practical steps both countries take to transform the relationship into a genuine strategic partnership.

What is already clear, however, is that cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey is poised to deepen significantly in the years ahead.

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