Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to closer ties with Malaysia, calling for joint action on global issues such as Gaza. In an interview with Malaysia’s Bernama TV during the ASEAN summit, Fidan praised Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s vocal stance on Palestine and stressed the need for Muslim countries to act “shoulder to shoulder” against Israel’s actions, which he described as a “concentration camp” scenario in Gaza.

Fidan highlighted Türkiye and Malaysia’s historic and cultural bonds, urging expanded cooperation in trade, defense, technology, and energy. He noted current trade volume at $5 billion and set a $10 billion target, citing President Erdoğan’s urgency to meet that goal.

He also underlined Türkiye’s active role in diplomacy and mediation in global conflicts, including Gaza, Ukraine, and the Caucasus, and called for reform of the post-WWII international system. “The world is facing systemic crises,” he said. “We must build a fairer global order.”

Fidan concluded by affirming Türkiye and Malaysia share common values and should leverage their partnership to promote peace, equity, and multilateral cooperation worldwide.