Turkey - Mexico Strategic Dialogue
“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.
Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.
The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.
Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.
Mexico with its area of near 2 million km², strategic position in Central America, population of approximately 124 million, human resources, GDP of 1,223 trillion dollars and developing economy is a prominent country. Mexico also is a notable member and observer to many international organizations such as; UN, OAS (Organization of American States), Rio Group, OECD, ANDEAN, SICA (Central American Integration System), G-20, NAFTA.
The first diplomatic contact between Turkey and Mexico was established in 1927. Turkey - Mexico relations have a positive course in mutual and multilateral platforms. Besides the dual relations between Turkey and Mexico; there is cooperation of both countries in multilateral forums. Turkey and Mexico had become permanent members in United Nations Security Council in 2009 and 2010. Both countries have shared the same views about the reform of UN. Both countries are members to G-20 and OECD.
There is an increasing trend of high level official visits between Turkey and Mexico. As the first presidential level visit, Mexican President paid an official visit to Turkey in 2013 and 13 agreements and documents were signed including the Memorandum of Understanding, which elevated the bilateral relations to “strategic partnership“ as well as the protocol establishing the Binational High Level Commission, and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations have been initiated. President of the Republic of Turkey visited Mexico in 2015 and in this context, Air Services Agreement, Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Agreement on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments were signed. Mexico became Turkey’s second strategic partner in Latin American and Caribbean region.
Turkey is a suitable partner for Mexico to be influential in Central Asia, Middle East, Balkans and Caucasus. On the other hand; Mexico is an important country for Turkey with regards to its relations with North and South American countries. Cooperation between two countries at regional and global level will increase their diplomatic prestige and will contribute to the regional and global peace and stability.
Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America after Brazil and the 15th largest in the world. It is also the world's 12th largest oil producer and ranks 11th in the world in terms of population size. Mexico has concluded 12 Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with 46 countries in total. It conducts more than 90% of its trade with the countries with which it has signed an FTA. The process for the resumption of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Turkey and Mexico is in progress.
Commercial and economic relations with Mexico, which is Turkey's largest export partner in the Latin American region, have also gained momentum in recent years. The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Mexico stood at 1.3 billion dollars in 2019 and trade gap weight against Turkey was 76.3 million dollars. The main products exported by Turkey to Mexico are motor vehicles, mechanical equipment and tools, jewelers' tools, iron/steel/aluminum/plastic/rubber and their products, electrical machinery and devices, fruits and nuts. The main products exported by Mexico to Turkey are electrical equipment, cereals, optics, and machinery and mechanical tools.
Despite both countries’ close cooperation in political relations, adaptation of liberal economical policies and democratic values; economical relations do not reflect the expectations. Major trade partners of Mexico are NAFTA countries. Likewise; major trade partners of Turkey EU member states. Both countries were affected less from the global economic crisis which has begun in 2008 due to precautions that they took in their financial systems. Countries like Turkey and Mexico should cooperate more in order to avoid the long term negative effects of global economic crisis.
Despite geographical distance, there are many cooperation areas between Turkey and Mexico. For example; Mexico offers opportunities like Free Trade Zone for Turkish business people. Both countries have unique cultural richness. This can be used to improve cooperation in tourism, public diplomacy and international relations between two countries. Promotion of areas of cooperation is necessary between Turkey and Mexico. Main problems which prevent the improvement of Turkey - Mexico relations are lack of knowledge and advertisement. In order to solve these problems student exchange programs, cooperation in media, informatics and technology sectors should be introduced.
On the other hand; Turkey and Mexico share common interests in geopolitics and security at regional and global levels. With regards to “need for security of energy supply and demand“; maintaining peace and security serve both countries’ interests. Both countries, in order to sustain critically important long term interest; can develop an effective strategic cooperation. At this point a wider perspective should be adopted with regards to Turkey - Mexico relations.
With the end of the Cold War; main trend in international politics which has gained a momentum with globalization is that the countries cannot develop alone by themselves but through regional and global cooperation. Nowadays; countries have transformed themselves into entities that are open to economical, political and cultural cooperation and those countries which cannot adapt themselves to this process have become unstable. Both of the countries are rising regional economical and political powers and their cooperation will create regional, national and global plus values. In order to improve mutual relations in the fields of political dialogue, economy, trade, science, technology, defense industry, investment, tourism, culture and diplomacy; various policies and strategies should be created. Within this framework; it is necessary to develop long term “strategic cooperation“ between Turkey and Mexico.
Now it is required that the two countries head towards a future structure, in order to uplift the Turkey - Mexico relations an ideal point within a world power schema which takes its form in a multi-dimensional way, by creating a mutual deepening not only in political and strategic basis but also in its each parameter. History offers opportunities for deepening their interdependency. In this regard, the Turkey - Mexico Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together the representatives of sectors in a comprehensive way that includes the strategic dimension of the relations, will play a significant role.
Main Theme
Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons
Sub Themes
New Balances New Economy
Turkey - Mexico Economic Relations: Opportunities and Obstacles
Geopolitical and Security Cooperation
Technological, Academic and Cultural Cooperation
Social, Economic and Political Developments
Relations with the US, China and New Partners
Adaptation to the Global Management Structures
Opportunities of Improvement of Relations in Multi-Dimensional Global Arena
Priority Sectors
Public Diplomacy, Education and Language
Culture and Tourism
Construction, Contracting and Infrastructure
Health and Health Tourism
Energy, Petrochemicals and Investments
Logistics, Transportation and Telecommunication
Banking and Finance (Strategic Investment Fund)
Economy and Trade
Media and Communication
Science and Technology
Brand Cities and Environment
Defence and Space Industry
STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (DRAFT)
Method
Inductive Reasoning, Participation and Economic Deepening
Turkey - Mexico Committee of Wise Persons Meetings Workshop
Building Capacity and Ecosystem Inventory
Preparation of Research Projects and their Reports
Development of Pro-active Policy Recommendations
Round-Table Meetings/Workshops
Multilateral Workshops/Studies
Sector Workshops/Activities
Applied Interactive Modelings
Strategic Reports
Publication of sector studies as strategic reports for decision makers, private sector, media and public opinion of the two countries. Providing literature and memory support.
Media Conferences
Other Academic Studies
Strategic Reports, Books, Articles, Thesis and so on Academic Studies
Event Page
https://tasam.org/en/Etkinlik/18314/turkey_-_mexico_strategic_dialogue
