From Dependence to Dominance: Türkiye’s Strategic Journey in Defense from the 1980s to Today

From the 1980s and 1990s to the present day, much evolution has been noted in Türkiye’s defense industry. Looking back at the factors elaborated in the historical context, we can make comparisons that provide insight into Türkiye’s growth, strategic shifts, and challenges still facing its defense sector today.

I traced the evolution of Türkiye’s defense industry through a detailed paper in the book Arms Industry Limited by SIPRI. I focused on one of the chapters, which represented the status of Türkiye’s defense sector from 1982 to 1991. The insights obtained are for a country highly dependent on foreign arms imports and strategic alliances within NATO. When setting these findings against the current defense landscape of Türkiye, I was able to pick up the significant shifts in strategy and technology, along with the unsettled challenges. This analysis will give a bird’s-eye view of how Türkiye has moved from its dependencies to a much more assertive and independent defense posture, reflecting broader geopolitical ambitions in today’s multipolar world.

Geopolitical Context

1982-1991

The Cold War deeply marked, from a geopolitical point of view, the importance of Türkiye in the second half of the…