Erdogan visits for first time in 8 years to discuss nuclear energy, defense and future industries

Ramos-Horta to make first official bilateral visit since ties were established; summit set for Thursday

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an official welcoming ceremony held at the presidential palace in Ankara on Nov. 24 last year (local time). [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an official welcoming ceremony held at the presidential palace in Ankara on Nov. 24 last year (local time). [Yonhap]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta will visit South Korea in quick succession in early November. President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold separate summits with both leaders, with talks expected to broaden cooperation on nuclear energy, defense, future industries and ASEAN diplomacy.

Cheong Wa Dae Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing Sunday that Erdogan will make a state visit to South Korea from Monday through Wednesday. "This visit marks the first state visit by President Erdogan in eight years, since his 2018 trip, and the two leaders are expected to hold a bilateral summit roughly one year after President Lee's state visit to Turkey in November 2025," Kang said.

The two leaders will meet in person for the first time in about four months since the NATO summit in Ankara in July. Starting with an official welcoming ceremony Tuesday afternoon, the schedule includes a summit, an MOU signing ceremony and a state dinner.

Turkey is a major contributor to the Korean War and a key NATO member state. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957 and elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership in 2012. At the summit, the two leaders plan to review progress on initiatives agreed at last year's meeting and hold wide-ranging discussions on trade and investment, nuclear energy and defense cooperation, future industry collaboration in biotech, energy and science and technology, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East. Cheong Wa Dae said the visit "will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the strategic partnership ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027."

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta will then make an official visit to South Korea from Thursday through Saturday at Lee's invitation. It will be the first official bilateral visit by an East Timorese head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002. Ramos-Horta, a 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been a vocal admirer of South Korea's efforts to defend democracy.

Lee and Ramos-Horta will hold a summit Friday morning, followed by an MOU signing ceremony, an official luncheon and a joint press statement. The two sides will discuss ways to expand practical cooperation in diplomacy and security, intellectual property, climate change, education and people-to-people exchanges.

South Korea has supported East Timor's peace consolidation and nation-building through UN peacekeeping operations by the Sangnoksu Unit, election management assistance and development cooperation. Cheong Wa Dae noted that "East Timor is emerging as a key partner in Korea-ASEAN cooperation, having joined ASEAN as its 11th member last year," adding that the visit "will serve as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation and expand South Korea's role as a globally responsible middle power ahead of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year."


sunpine@heraldcorp.com