VP: Türkiye revolutionizes defence industry

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz has stated that Türkiye significantly decreased its reliance on imports within the defence industry, a crucial sector of the economy, thereby bolstering its independence.

Yilmaz made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the Research Centres of the Middle East Technical University, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz recalled that 20 years ago, Türkiye's import dependence in the defence industry was at 80 per cent. However, this figure has been reduced to 20 per cent due to large-scale investments in the industry and the development of human capital.

"Reducing import dependence is crucial not only for strengthening the country's defence capability but also for maintaining its independence," Yilmaz said. "I believe that if a country lacks solid infrastructure, a strong economy, modern technologies, and the ability to produce its own products, and relies on other countries for critical sectors like the defence industry, it is difficult to claim complete independence."

He highlighted that Türkiye has revolutionized the defence industry, significantly increasing production and exports over the past 20 years.

"For instance, the export of Turkish defence industry products reached $5.5 billion in 2023. This year, we expect exports to increase to $7 billion," Yilmaz added.

By reducing reliance on foreign imports and enhancing its defence production capabilities, Türkiye has significantly bolstered its strategic independence. This autonomy allows Türkiye to make independent decisions regarding its defence policies and responses to regional and global security challenges.

Türkiye’s defence industry continues to evolve, with ongoing investments in cutting-edge technologies and further expansion of its production and export capacities. The nation aims to maintain its momentum, ensuring that it remains a key player in the global defence industry and continues to safeguard its national security through self-reliance and innovation.

This transformation has not only fortified Türkiye’s defence capabilities but also underscored its commitment to achieving and maintaining strategic independence in an increasingly complex global security environment.