BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan: Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreed to a 鈥渃omprehensive strategic partnership,鈥� boosting defense ties, during an official visit to the Central Asian state by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara is strengthening its presence across the region, as it seeks to compete with the likes of Russia and China for influence.
Erdogan regularly visits Central Asia and will on Wednesday take part in a summit of the Organization of Turkic States, a Turkish-led initiative to promote its culture and ties across several former Soviet republics.
Kyrgyzstan鈥檚 President Sadyr Japarov said in a statement: 鈥淲e have taken an important decision to raise the level of strategic partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Turkiye to that of a 鈥榗omprehensive strategic partnership.鈥欌€�
The two sides signed 19 agreements in areas including energy, defense and the fight against terrorism.
Japarov hailed 鈥淜yrgyz-Turkish cooperation in the field of defense and the potential for further development.鈥�
Amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, Turkiye has stepped up military cooperation with Central Asian states, a challenge to Moscow鈥檚 historic supremacy in the region.
Turkiye was the third-biggest investor in Kyrgyzstan in the first half of 2024, behind Russia and China.
But it lags in terms of trade, accounting for 3.8 percent of Kyrgyzstan鈥檚 imports and exports, against 34.2 percent for China and 19.5 percent for Russia.