Erdogan says Turkey will swiftly advance its national defense projects
(MENAFN) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that Türkiye will rapidly advance its domestic defense projects while enhancing “win-win” defense cooperation with European allies. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, he emphasized the dual focus on national defense capabilities and strategic partnerships.
“While we swiftly put our domestic and national defense projects into operation, we will strengthen our defense cooperation with our European allies on a win-win basis,” Erdogan said.
He marked Oct. 28 as the inauguration of the BMC Ankara Tank and Next-Generation Armored Vehicle Production Facility, ranking among Europe’s top three and the world’s top five facilities of its kind. The facility aims to deliver 250 ALTAY tanks to the Turkish Armed Forces within six years. Erdogan expressed gratitude to BMC, the Defense Industries Secretariat, project partners, and all individuals involved in the facility’s establishment.
Erdogan also highlighted recent high-level visits that bolstered Türkiye’s air defense capacity.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Turkish officials last week to discuss investment, trade, and defense cooperation, culminating in a new agreement on procuring Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
On the domestic front, Erdogan underscored continued growth in tourism despite regional challenges. He noted that nearly 50 million people visited Türkiye in the first nine months of 2025, a 1.6% increase compared to last year, generating $50 billion in revenue—a 5.7% rise year-on-year. Per-capita nightly spending by foreign visitors reached $116, up 9% from last year, while overall visitor spending averaged $103. Erdogan expressed confidence in achieving the year-end target of $64 billion in tourism revenue.
Turning to defense innovation, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to homegrown fighter jets. He stated that the KAAN jets will be integrated into the Turkish Air Force according to schedule and highlighted the HURJET program’s success, noting Spain’s recent approval to purchase 45 units as evidence of Türkiye’s growing defense capabilities. “Despite all overt and covert attempts to block us, Türkiye will continue to make history in the defense industry,” he added.
Erdogan concluded by stressing Türkiye’s commitment to counterterrorism, affirming that the country seeks to prevent any form of terrorism both domestically and in neighboring regions.
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