Türkiye set to boost defence and cooperation with European allies

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced a major acceleration in Türkiye’s defence ambitions, pledging to move forward rapidly with homegrown projects and strengthen cooperation with Europe.

After a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s domestic defence programs, from military tanks to fighter jets, are entering a new phase.

He pointed to the newly opened BMC Ankara production facility, one of the world’s top five, where 250 ALTAY tanks will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces within six years.

“Our goal is to deliver 250 Altay tanks within six years,” he said, while thanking all contributors to the project.

Erdoğan also hailed what he called a “new era” in air defence, following high-level visits from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, meetings that advanced talks on Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

“While accelerating our domestic and national projects, we will strengthen defence cooperation with our European allies on a win-win basis,” Erdoğan said.

Another major development is that Spain’s government has approved the purchase of 45 Turkish-made HÜRJET aircraft, a deal Erdoğan described as proof of Europe’s growing confidence in Türkiye’s defence industry.

Erdoğan also reaffirmed that Türkiye’s next-generation KAAN fighter jet is yet to join the Air Force, and stressed that the country will continue to make history in defense.

Currently Turkiye has the second largest army after the United States in the NATO alliance. 
 

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