Türkiye rises as global arms power, increasing exports by over 100% SIPRI report/ PHOTO

A new report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that Türkiye’s arms exports have experienced a dramatic increase of 103 per cent between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five-year period. This surge has positioned Türkiye as the 11th largest arms exporter worldwide, accounting for 1.7 percent of global arms exports.

From 2015 to 2019, Türkiye’s share of the global arms market stood at 0.8 per cent, but this figure has more than doubled in recent years, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the largest recipient of Turkish arms, receiving 18 per cent of Türkiye’s exports during the 2020–2024 period. Pakistan and Qatar follow as the second and third-largest recipients, with 10 per cent and 9.9 per cent, respectively.

The significant growth in Türkiye’s arms exports is attributed to the country's efforts to reduce its dependency on foreign arms suppliers. The Turkish government has heavily invested in its domestic defence industry, which has seen rapid expansion in recent years. Notably, Türkiye is now a major global exporter of armed drones, a sector dominated by Turkish defence contractor Baykar. Baykar’s drones, developed under the leadership of Selçuk Bayraktar, have been exported to at least 35 countries.

Baykar is now among Türkiye's top 10 exporters across all industries, and according to the Centre for a New American Security, the company accounts for about 60 per cent of Türkiye’s UAV exports, which make up 65 per cent of global UAV exports. Over 90 per cent of Baykar’s products are exported to 35 countries.

In contrast, Türkiye’s arms imports have decreased by 33 per cent between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, reducing its share of global arms imports from 1.7 per cent to 1.1 per cent. Spain has been the largest supplier to Türkiye, contributing 34 per cent of its arms imports, followed by Italy (24 per cent) and Germany (19 per cent).

SIPRI’s report also highlights Türkiye's increasing influence in regions like West Africa. Between 2020-2024, Türkiye and Russia were the third-largest arms suppliers to West African nations, each supplying 11 per cent of the region’s arms imports, trailing only China and France.

SIPRI, an independent international institute dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament, provides valuable data and analysis to policymakers, researchers, and the public. The report offers important insights into global arms trade trends, particularly as new suppliers like Türkiye continue to assert their influence on the world stage.

By Vafa Guliyeva