Asia Anew Security Forum 2024 New Technopolitical and Security Partnership

ASIA ANEW SECURITY FORUM
New Technopolitical and Security Partnership

(21-22 November 2024, Istanbul)

Türkiye's initiative called "Asia Anew," declared in 2019 to re-establish stronger ties with the Asian continent, which has ancient connections and has become the economic and geopolitical center of the world in the 21st century by hosting rising global powers, is a reflection of an entrepreneurial foreign policy concept that necessitates innovation. Aimed at adapting its Asia policy to the times and projecting it into the future, Türkiye has created a new initiative with the "Asia Anew" project, considering the differences on the continent while also adopting a comprehensive approach. The initiative seeks to establish new energy and synergy across the continent based on shared values, mutual respect, equality, harmony, and principles expressed in the UN Charter. Tools needed to embrace the entire continent are being developed through public-private partnerships, university collaborations, and societal cooperation. These collaborations are envisioned to cover a broad perspective, including the economy, civil society, health, tourism, technology, space, defense industry, education, culture, and diplomacy. In this context, the strength of the capacity mobilized, particularly from think tanks critical to decision-making processes, will determine Türkiye's future in this field.

Taking on the presidency of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the most comprehensive regional cooperation organization on the continent in the 2019-2020 period, Türkiye aims not only to strengthen its axis choice with the Asia Anew Initiative but also to consolidate its unifying position between the continents of Asia and Europe and contribute to sustainable development. Over the last 20 years, the successes of both Türkiye, whose influence has increased globally, and the rising Asian countries in global politics and the economy present an opportunity to reassess these achievements with a win-win approach. As Asia, which holds the center of gravity in both the global population and the economy, rapidly develops in terms of economic and cultural diversity, Türkiye strives to enhance its relations with the continent of which it is a part. This effort aims to highlight the new opportunities arising from this development and capitalize on the cooperation potential with regional countries.

In the process of refocusing on Asia with the initiative, Türkiye, the westernmost Asian country with deep historical and cultural ties, aims to strengthen its relationships with countries ranging from Central Asia to East Asia, South Asia to Southeast Asia, with which it has millennia-old connections. The initiative provides opportunities for strong interactions and civil diplomacy in economic and civil society areas with Asia. Additionally, collaborations in areas such as energy, high technology, Industry 4.0, knowledge, and expertise transfer are among the goals, particularly with prominent countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Two-year Priority Action Plans for 40 main areas have been established for 31 Asian countries as part of the Asia Anew initiative. Active and dynamic participation in increasingly influential international organizations on the continent is being facilitated under the Asia Anew initiative, with action plans being implemented one by one according to the statuses held in each organization.

The Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) has continuously emphasized the motto "The 21st Century will be the 'Asian Century'" since 2004. With the Asia Anew initiative based on four main pillars: "enhancing intergovernmental relations," "increasing the trade capacity of the private sector," "improving academic collaboration," and "expanding interaction between societies," emphasis is placed on Asia's importance to each country individually.

TASAM, the first Turkish institution to initiate comprehensive Asian studies, and its network of institutes have implemented numerous international instruments bilaterally and multilaterally, starting from 2004 with a vision that gradually became more feasible in the evolving climate. Initiatives include bilateral and trilateral mechanisms, country and region-based strategic dialogue programs, economy-focused studies/projects, International Turkish-Asian Congresses, specific forums, meetings, programs, projects, visits, reports, publications, and academic studies. The FORUM, established as a new instrument, aims to take on a unique mission to discuss partnership perspectives between Türkiye and Asia in the new technopolitical and security ecosystem.