Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2008

The Strategic Benefits of Turkey's Admission Into East Asian Summit

Kim Beng Phar

November 2007

SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research

Abstract

To fulfill Turkey's mission as a "civilizational connector" between Europe and Asia, Turkey must be a full member of the East Asian Summit. The path towards this goal, among others, requires Turkey to be a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. Once ASEAN sponsors Turkey's membership in East Asian Summit, Turkey would then be strategically positioned to be a key member with some of the world's most monumental economic and political powers in its midst. Indeed, if Turkey is a member of East Asian Summit, ideally by 2010, Turkey would be in a better position to realize its strategic, civilizational, and historical depth.