Speaking at the Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler emphasized the need to increase defense investments to strengthen NATO's deterrence. Güler assessed the Alliance's 5 percent defense investment commitment as an important step.
Minister Güler said that in the modern warfare environment, ammunition supply speed, unmanned systems and rapid innovation are decisive, as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine. He added that developments in the Strait of Hormuz have made supply chain security an integral part of defense planning.
Drawing attention to the level Türkiye has reached in its defense industry, Güler said, 'Dozens of military ships are being built simultaneously in our shipyards.' He stated that in naval platform production, Türkiye not only meets its own needs but also has the capacity to contribute to its allies and partners.
Noting that the Altay main battle tank has entered the serial production phase as part of the modernization of land forces, Minister Güler also remarked that the KAAN program has elevated Türkiye to a new league in developing high-tech combat air platforms.
Stating that ammunition production is one of the most critical issues for the Alliance, Güler announced that the 155 mm ammunition production capacity is being rapidly increased and that missile and ammunition production capacity has been significantly expanded through ROKETSAN's investments.
He emphasized that investments by companies like ASELSAN and HAVELSAN in radar, electronic warfare and AI-supported systems are also advancing the defense industry qualitatively. Güler said that a culture of cooperation must be built in peacetime, as setting up a production line after a crisis emerges may be too late.
Calling on NATO member countries to turn commitments into capability, the Minister of National Defense said, 'Let us turn resources into production. Let us turn our industrial strength into deterrence and strengthen our Alliance's security not with words, but with concrete capacity that has a counterpart on the ground.'
