Defense Policy & Strategy

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

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Why Turkish Defence Bids Lose: Three Cases and a Pattern

Turkish defence bids lose for three repeatable reasons, and all three are visible in the public record. A foreign-made component hands a third government a...

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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...