Ankara: Senior Turkish and US officials, alongside leading defense industry representatives, convened in Ankara to explore avenues for deeper cooperation in defense production, supply chains, and advanced technologies, according to the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Trkiye (DEIK).
According to Anadolu Agency, the Trkiye-US Defense Industry Cooperation Roundtable was organized on July 7 during the 36th NATO summit by DEIK's Trkiye-US Business Council (TAIK), AmCham Trkiye, and the American Turkish Business Roundtable (ATBR). The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Salih Ayhan, US Department of Defense Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey, and representatives from several defense companies including Lockheed Martin and Alp Aviation.
Participants emphasized the constructive and strategic approach that has recently gained momentum in Trkiye-US relations, noting its contribution to economic and commercial cooperation between the two allies. They highlighted the potential for sustainable partnerships in strategic sectors such as the defense industry and advanced technology, which could bolster the economic and industrial dimensions of bilateral ties.
Discussions at the meeting centered on joint design, development and production, supply chain integration, and cooperation in next-generation technologies. Participants also noted that high-level dialogue between Trkiye and the US could pave the way for new partnerships in high-value-added sectors, particularly defense, supporting the bilateral trade volume target of $100 billion set by the two countries' leaders in 2019.
Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Salih Ayhan remarked on the strong dialogue between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump, which has invigorated Trkiye-US relations. Ayhan emphasized that the defense industry is a key pillar of the strategic partnership between Ankara and Washington and highlighted Trkiye's robust production ecosystem, which includes more than 3,500 companies and over 100,000 qualified employees.
US Under Secretary Michael P. Duffey underlined the critical timing of the meeting for allied cooperation and common security. He stressed the importance of producing critical capabilities faster and addressing bureaucratic delays, production gaps, and supply chain bottlenecks, which he described as strategic vulnerabilities.
DEIK President Nail Olpak pointed out the opportunities for deeper cooperation in defense procurement, industrial capacity, and sustainment, driven by rising global security needs. He emphasized the synergy between Trkiye's advanced manufacturing capabilities and the American defense ecosystem's technological leadership and supply needs.
TAIK Chair Murat Ozyegin highlighted defense and aerospace as key drivers for future growth in the Trkiye-US economic partnership. He noted that joint production, technology development, mutual investment, and supply chain integration would enhance both bilateral economic ties and NATO's industrial ecosystem resilience.
AmCham Trkiye Chair Emre Karter and ATBR Chair Gen. James Jones echoed the strategic importance of Trkiye-US defense industry cooperation for NATO's defense capacity, suggesting that continued engagement could lead to concrete collaborations and long-term partnerships between the two nations.