Indonesia marked the 81st anniversary of its independence with a reception held in Ankara under the banner of “Partnership Day 2026.” Indonesia’s Ambassador to Ankara, Achmad Rizal Purnama, hosted the reception, which brought together Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and the commanders of the armed forces, as well as representatives of diplomatic missions, businesspeople and numerous guests.
The reception was held at the Indonesian ambassador’s residence in Ankara; Defense Minister Güler attended alongside Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel and Air Forces Commander General Rafet Dalkıran. Presidency of Defense Industries President Haluk Görgün and former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States Binali Yıldırım also attended the reception.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Purnama referred to the earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores region last Saturday. Referring to the messages of solidarity from Türkiye, Purnama said, “A friend is known in a time of need, and Türkiye has once again shown that it is exactly such a friend.”
Trust in defense, partnership in investment
Purnama said mutual trust underpins defense cooperation between the two countries. “Platforms such as KAAN, KIZILELMA, TB3, AKINCI, ANKA, KAPLAN and İstif-class frigates clearly reflect the confidence in Türkiye’s defense industry. Our cooperation in joint development, joint production, joint ventures and future technologies is deepening.”
On investment, Purnama said Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, and the Türkiye Wealth Fund were exploring opportunities for joint investment in strategic sectors, adding that Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), one of the world’s leading paper and pulp producers, had also invested in Türkiye.
Trade remains below its potential
Purnama said trade between the two countries remained below its potential. “With a combined population of 375 million and a gross domestic product of approximately $3.1 trillion, our leaders have set a trade target of $10 billion. We are currently at about one-quarter of that, and that is not enough. Governments must step in by facilitating market access and removing barriers.”
Purnama said 1,215 companies had been active between the two countries over the past three years, adding that Indonesia’s president expected concrete results in 2026.
The world is bigger than five
Purnama said Türkiye and Indonesia, as leaders of the Global South and strong voices of the Muslim world, carry a responsibility beyond their own borders, and that this responsibility was most urgently evident in Palestine.
Purnama said, “The suffering of Palestinians cannot and must not become the new normal. International law must be respected, justice must be ensured and lasting peace must be built. Humanity must always come before politics. The world needs a fairer system based on justice, equity and respect for international law — for countries in the North and South, large and small, developed and developing alike. The world is bigger than five.”
Minister Güler: The KAAN era in defense cooperation
Speaking at the reception, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler also began his remarks by offering his condolences for those who lost their lives in the earthquake that struck Indonesia last Saturday.
Güler said defense industry cooperation between Türkiye and Indonesia had reached a concrete stage. “The agreement we have reached on the sale of 48 KAAN aircraft — our country’s domestically developed and produced fifth-generation national combat aircraft — to Indonesia has taken our cooperation in this field to a higher level.”
Cooperation on multilateral platforms
Minister Güler said the two countries also cooperate on international platforms. “Our coordinated work on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the G20 and the D-8 is an important manifestation of our shared commitment to global peace and stability. We will continue to work together with Indonesia on these issues as well.”
At the reception, Indonesian artists performed dance and music before the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality FOMGET Folk Dance Ensemble took the stage and performed Anatolian folk dances including zeybek and horon.
