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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev will co-chair the eighth meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group in Ankara on Monday, underscoring the growing strategic convergence between the two countries.
Diplomatic sources at the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Fidan is expected to voice satisfaction with the trajectory of bilateral political relations, citing sustained high-level engagement and a steady expansion of institutional dialogue between Ankara and Astana.
The meeting is set to focus on advancing cooperation across key strategic sectors, including trade, economic relations, investment, energy, transportation, the defense industry, education, and humanitarian and cultural cooperation. Discussions are also expected to address practical measures aimed at achieving the mutually agreed target of expanding bilateral trade to $15 billion.
Fidan is anticipated to emphasize the importance of deepening coordination within multilateral platforms, particularly the Organization of Turkic States, while reaffirming the strategic priority Turkey places on enhanced regional connectivity. In this context, strengthening logistical and transport infrastructure — notably through the Trans-Caspian East–West Middle Corridor — is expected to feature prominently.
The two ministers are also expected to exchange assessments on key regional and international developments, including Afghanistan, Iran, and the Palestinian issue.
Institutional Framework Anchors Expanding Ties
Turkey–Kazakhstan relations are anchored in a comprehensive network of institutional mechanisms, including the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), the Joint Strategic Planning Group, the Joint Economic Commission, and regular political consultations, ensuring continuity and depth in bilateral engagement.
A milestone in this framework was the fifth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in Ankara on July 29 last year under the co-chairmanship of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the council’s decisions and a joint statement by both leaders, alongside 20 agreements spanning education, energy, mining, transportation, communications, banking, free economic zones, artificial intelligence and space technologies, science and technology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, health, urban planning, and justice.
Kazakhstan stands as Turkey’s largest trading partner in Central Asia, with bilateral trade reaching $8.95 billion in the January–November 2025 period. More than 3,000 Turkish-owned companies operate across the Kazakh economy, with strong footprints in food production, mining, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, construction, hospitality, and manufacturing.
Kazakhstan is Turkey’s third-largest oil supplier, following Russia and Iraq. Energy cooperation between the two countries extends beyond hydrocarbons to include renewable energy and energy transportation logistics.
Turkey also ranks among the leading foreign investors in Kazakhstan’s non-energy sectors, with cumulative investments estimated at approximately $5.8 billion as of 2025.
Written by Nuha Jaber