Berlin: Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, Berlin has been striving to support Ukraine while simultaneously enhancing its own defense capabilities.
According to Deutsche Welle, the conflict has highlighted NATO's insufficient production capacity, prompting European countries, in particular, to boost their manufacturing capabilities.
To address this demand, Germany is seeking new partners and has identified NATO ally Turkey as a potential collaborator. Defense was a focal point during a recent meeting between Friedrich Merz and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan affirmed Turkey's commitment to closely cooperate with Germany in defense matters. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during a visit to Ankara, expressed optimism about the potential collaboration between the two nations' defense industries.
Germany's shrinking network in challenging geopolitical times has been noted by a high-ranking official from the German Armed Forces Procurement Office in Koblenz. The official emphasized the evolving role of NATO in the geopolitical landscape and acknowledged Turkey as a strong NATO partner with valuable insights to offer. Turkey boasts the second-largest army in NATO after the United States.
Turkey's defense sector is experiencing significant growth. In 2022, four Turkish companies, including Baykar and Aselsan, were listed among the 100 largest arms companies by SIPRI. The reputation of Turkey's defense industry is gaining recognition in Germany. Benedikt Meng, a German defense expert, highlighted the mutual benefits of deeper defense and industrial policy relations between Turkey and Germany, given Turkey's role as a key player in NATO and the Middle East.
Existing cooperation agreements are paving the way for future collaborations. Beginning in 2027, Turkish company Repkon will produce NATO-standard artillery ammunition in Germany. While some media have referred to this as a "technology transfer," Turkish defense analyst Caglar Kurc considers it symbolic. He emphasized Turkey's production capacity and willingness to cooperate as valuable resources for European defense development.
Despite years of political tension, the relationship between Turkey and Germany is evolving. The focus is shifting towards partnership, although concerns about human rights violations persist. Efforts are underway to maintain NATO ties with Turkey, which maintains relations with China and Russia.
Turkey has established itself internationally with its powerful and cost-effective drones, which have played significant roles in conflicts such as the Nagorno-Karabakh war and in Ukraine. EU countries like Poland and Romania have already acquired Turkish drones. The Bundeswehr official suggested that Germany should explore Turkish drones, given Turkey's advancements in this area. Meng noted that German technology is already integrated into Turkish TB2 drones.
Kurc emphasized the potential benefits for international partners: "Turkey's increasing production capacities also strengthen NATO." He cited armed drones as an example, pointing out that while Europe is still developing the Eurodrone project, Turkey already possesses comparable systems. Turkey's application to participate in the EU's "Security Action for Europe" (SAFE) program further demonstrates its interest in contributing to Europe's armament strategy. The EU Commission is currently reviewing Turkey's application for participation in the program, which aims to bolster the defense industry with significant loans.