Defense Policy & Strategy

Turkish defense policy and strategy: Turkish Armed Forces, procurement decisions, NATO relations and regional security developments.

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Türkiye Sets 2027 Defence Targets: $11.5B Exports, 84% Localization

Türkiye's 2027 Presidential Annual Program sets a target of $11.5 billion in defense and aerospace exports and an 84% localization rate for the sector, according...

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What Will the Turkish Air Force Fly in 2035? Fleet Plan

In 2035 the Turkish Air Force will still fly mostly F-16s. Every new combat aircraft Türkiye has put under contract or is negotiating — 20...

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Turkish Parliament Committee Approves Mecca Defence Pact

Türkiye's parliament moved the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement a step closer to law on October 27, when the Grand National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee approved...

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Turkish Defence Order Book: How Long Is the Delivery Queue?

Türkiye's defence primes have sold far more work than they can currently build. ASELSAN alone closed September 2026 with an order backlog of $30.7 billion...

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Who Approves a Turkish Arms Export — and Who Can Stop It

A Turkish arms export is approved by the Ministry of National Defence, not by the Presidency of Defence Industries that foreign readers usually have in...

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Can Türkiye Replace Russia in the Global Arms Market?

No — not as a whole, and not soon. Russia still delivered close to four times Türkiye's volume of major arms over 2021–25, and three-quarters...

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Turkish Navy-ASFAT Delegation Agrees Naval Roadmap With Syria

A Turkish Naval Forces and ASFAT delegation sailed into Latakia aboard the fast attack craft TCG Bora on October 23, Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence...

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Is Türkiye a Top 10 Arms Exporter? What Rankings Show

No. On the only global ranking of arms exporters that is compiled independently and published every year, Türkiye sits 11th. SIPRI's Trends in International Arms...