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Turkey targets more defence sales as West rearms, alliances shift

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Turkey has become a significant exporter of military equipment, including drones, leveraging state investment over two decades.
  • As Western nations rearm and alliances shift, Turkey sees opportunities to expand arms sales and joint production, particularly in Europe and the U.S.
  • The country aims to double defense exports in two years, seeking revenue for debt reduction and further development, while also addressing its own security needs.

Turkey is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on a shifting global security landscape, aiming to significantly boost its defense exports. Two decades of state-backed investment have transformed the NATO member from a reliant importer to a major global supplier of drones and other military hardware. Now, with Western nations rearming in response to geopolitical events like Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey sees an opening to expand its reach into new markets.

Turkey's defence industry had made a "major leap" by exporting advanced systems, especially aerial drones.

— Can Kasapoglu, senior fellow at the Hudson InstituteKasapoglu comments on the significant advancement of Turkey's defense industry, particularly its success in exporting aerial drones.

Many European governments are reassessing their security dependencies and the reliability of U.S. guarantees. This has led them to view Turkey not just as a crucial military ally on NATO's southeastern flank, but also as a potential industrial partner. Turkish defense exports, including its prominent armed drones, have more than tripled since 2021, reaching $10 billion last year and accounting for a notable portion of the country's total exports. Exports to Europe and the U.S. have nearly quadrupled in the same period.

Ankara hopes that hosting upcoming NATO summits will facilitate greater arms sales and joint production in Western markets, though Turkish firms still face structural barriers within the European Union. The country's defense industry, featuring companies like Baykar and Turkish Aerospace Industries, has benefited from state support, flexible supply chains, and a willingness to customize products. This agility allows Turkish firms to fill gaps where Western suppliers face capacity constraints or lengthy procurement processes.

modern warfare depended not only on cutting-edge platforms but also on industrial depth and sustainability - areas where Turkey has gained credibility.

— Can Kasapoglu, senior fellow at the Hudson InstituteKasapoglu explains how the war in Ukraine highlights Turkey's growing credibility in the industrial and sustainability aspects of modern warfare.

Turkey's ambition is to double its defense exports within two years, generating revenue to pay down debt and fund further industry development. The nation's strategic location, bordering conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, also highlights its own security needs, particularly in air defense and advanced engine technology. Analysts note that Turkey's leap in exporting advanced systems, especially drones, has enhanced its credibility in modern warfare, which increasingly relies on industrial depth and sustainability.

European allies to abandon security arrangements that exclude non-EU NATO members such as Turkey

— Yasar Guler, Defence MinisterGuler urges European allies to reconsider security frameworks that exclude non-EU NATO members like Turkey.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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