The Foundation and Development of Turkey’s Defense Industry in the Context of National Security Strategy

Abstract

This article aims to provide an overview of the development of Turkey’s defense industry from a historical perspective within the context of the country’s national security strategy. Due to its unique geostrategic location and deep-rooted historical, socio-political and economic relations with the countries of its neighboring regions, it is appropriate for Turkey to possess a multidirectional foreign policy and defense concept. Since 1980, Turkey has been taking impressive steps to build a modern defense industry, launching initiatives at the national and international level, leading to the emergence of a new national defense industry strategy and defense concept for the 21st century.