"For us, Türkiye is the successor to the Ottoman Empire civilization. In our history, when our sultanate was attacked by Western imperialists, the Ottoman Empire sent help, weapons, troops, and advisors," he said.
He made the remarks while delivering a speech in front of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in Ankara on Thursday.
President Prabowo further noted that the memory of Ottoman support is still fresh in the minds of the Indonesian people, especially in areas that have been historically close to the empire, such as Aceh and Sumatra.
"To this day, the people still remember (how) their grandfathers and grandmothers were helped and trained by the Ottoman Empire. This is what has strengthened the relations between Indonesia and Türkiye," he said.
He added that he is probably the Indonesian politician who has visited Türkiye the most, even before becoming a president.
Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended to him by the Turkish government and people so far.
"This friendship was born from our shared values of struggle—the struggle for independence, dignity, and solidarity," he said.
He further said that Turkish leaders have been very welcoming and have always shared Türkiye's progress with Indonesia.
President Prabowo arrived at Ankara Esenboga Airport, Türkiye, around 6:58 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Türkiye is the second stop on Prabowo's five-nation Middle East tour after the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Next, he will visit Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.
In addition to delivering a speech in front of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Prabowo is scheduled to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.
Related news: Prabowo's visit to Turkiye to bolster bilateral relations: PCO
Related news: Indonesia, UAE discuss geopolitics, geoeconomics
Translator: Andi F, Galih P, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
