Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler presented the Ministry of National Defense’s 2026 budget proposal of 822.9 billion Turkish lira ($24 billion at current rates) to the Parliamentary Plan and Budget Commission on Tuesday.

Describing the current international order as “rapidly weakening,” Güler stressed that Türkiye’s security strategy now combines ironclad border protection with proactive diplomacy to safeguard national interests and regional stability.

Güler revealed that Türkiye’s borders are now among the most heavily fortified in the world. The entire 911-km Syrian border is sealed with modular concrete walls and fencing, while construction of walls and anti-vehicle trenches along the 560-km Iranian frontier is largely complete. Electro-optical towers and integrated sensor systems provide 24/7 surveillance.

In 2025 alone, Turkish forces blocked 59,105 illegal border crossings, detained 8,826 irregular migrants, arrested 164 terrorist suspects, and seized more than one ton of narcotics.

The minister hailed the PKK’s October 26 announcement of withdrawal from Türkiye as “an important step” but insisted that lasting peace requires full disarmament and the complete cessation of terrorist activities inside and outside Türkiye’s borders.

Anti-terror operations continue in close coordination with Iraq and northern Syria, with Güler vowing that “no space will be left for terrorist organizations.”

Reaffirming Türkiye’s non-negotiable rights in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, Güler said Ankara remains open to positive dialogue with Greece while ready to take “all necessary measures” against unilateral actions. He reiterated that any Cyprus settlement must be based on the sovereign equality of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Türkiye currently maintains training and advisory missions in Azerbaijan, Libya, Somalia, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Turkish officers will assume command of NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo in 2025, and Ankara will host the 2026 NATO Summit – the first time the alliance’s leaders will meet in Türkiye in over two decades.

Güler noted that Türkiye already exceeded NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target in 2024 (reaching 2.13%) and plans to gradually raise it to 5% by 2035, placing it among the alliance’s top spenders.

Key Role in Gaza CeasefireThe minister underlined Türkiye’s pivotal diplomatic and guarantee role in brokering the recent Gaza ceasefire, warning that the truce will only hold if Israel fully complies with its obligations. Türkiye continues to support the Gaza Peace Board and humanitarian access.

In a clear sign of Türkiye’s emergence as a global defense exporter, Minister Yaşar Güler announced that serial production of the long-awaited Altay main battle tank has officially begun, while design work on Türkiye’s first fully indigenous aircraft carrier is now actively underway.

He revealed strong international demand for Türkiye’s cutting-edge aerospace platforms, with multiple countries expressing keen interest in the fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet, the Hürjet advanced jet trainer, and the Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle.

At the same time, formal negotiations have been launched with the United Kingdom for the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, and talks continue with Qatar and Oman regarding potential sales of Turkish-made combat jets, further cementing Ankara’s growing footprint in the global arms market. Development of a Turkish “Iron Dome-style” multi-layered air and missile defense architecture is also accelerating.

Since the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, 24,002 personnel linked to the Gülenist movement (FETÖ) have been expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces. Recruitment now follows strictly merit-based criteria, Güler said.

The Turkish military conducted 194 exercises in the past year and continues large-scale mine-clearance operations both domestically (50 million square meters cleared) and in Azerbaijan and Syria.

The proposed 2026 defense budget of 822.93 billion TL represents 4.77% of Türkiye’s total state budget – a significant increase in real terms that reflects Ankara’s determination to field a modern, domestically equipped force capable of operating far beyond its borders.

Ending his three-hour presentation, Minister Güler paid tribute to Türkiye’s fallen soldiers and veterans, declaring: “With faith, determination, and the strength we draw from our nation, we will continue to make Türkiye one of the world’s leading military powers.” The budget now moves to full parliamentary debate and vote expected before the end of 2025. (ILKHA)