Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet Visits Turkey to Boost Defense Cooperation and Trade

Key summary

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet visited Turkey as part of a three-nation tour including Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. During the trip, he attended the Cambodia-Turkiye Business Forum organized by the Turkish International Contractors Association (DEIK) and met with President Erdogan in Istanbul on October 16, 2026. Key discussions focused on enhancing military-industrial cooperation and expanding trade relations. President Erdogan described Cambodia as an important Southeast Asian ally, noting rapid relationship development over recent years. Both sides discussed increasing bilateral trade value to $1 billion, referencing a previous target set during the late Prime Minister's 2024 visit. Turkey expressed satisfaction with Cambodia's interest in its defense industry and highlighted ongoing TIKA projects providing scholarships and humanitarian aid. The visit concluded with the signing of a military cooperation agreement. Economically, Cambodia invited Turkish investment in manufacturing, processed agriculture, logistics, renewable energy, digital technology, and tourism. However, current bilateral trade stands at approximately $390 million, making Cambodia Turkey's 99th trading partner, significantly behind regional peers like Malaysia ($5.67 billion), Vietnam ($3.39 billion), Indonesia ($2.58 billion), and Thailand ($2.31 billion).