Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye has reached a significant milestone in its defense industry, stressing that the sector serves as the “driving force” of the country’s vision for a strong and independent future.

Speaking at a naval ceremony held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, Erdoğan attended the delivery ceremony of the Offshore Patrol Vessel TCG Akçakoca to the Romanian Navy, as well as the commissioning and flag-raising ceremony of several Turkish Naval Forces platforms.

In his address, Erdoğan said the global security environment is undergoing profound changes and countries are being forced to reshape their defense strategies accordingly.

“A new security paradigm is emerging”

Highlighting the scale of global transformation since the Cold War, Erdoğan said traditional security concepts are being replaced by more complex and unpredictable threats.

“Every crisis we face reminds us that national security is too vital to be outsourced to others,” he said. “We are in a highly volatile period where those who are not strong on the field may find themselves not at the table, but on the menu.”

Türkiye ‘correctly reading’ global shifts

Erdoğan said Türkiye was among the countries that accurately anticipated the shift in global dynamics and adapted its policies accordingly.

He emphasized the strategic importance of the defense industry in this process, stating:

“Our vision of a great and powerful Türkiye is driven by the defense industry.”

The president noted that Türkiye has made significant progress in achieving defense industry self-sufficiency over the past 23 years, despite various obstacles and restrictions.

“We believed in ourselves and trusted our defense sector. As a result, we have reached levels that were unimaginable 23 years ago,” he said.

Record defense exports

Erdoğan also highlighted Türkiye’s growing role in global defense exports, saying the country now ranks among the world’s leading exporters in the sector.

He noted that Türkiye exported $996 million worth of defense and aerospace products last month, describing it as a historic achievement.

“Twenty-three years ago, our annual defense exports stood at $248 million. Today, we can reach that figure in just one week,” he added.

Erdoğan said Türkiye is now the 11th-largest defense exporter globally, underscoring the rapid growth of the sector in recent years.

The ceremony marked another step in Türkiye’s expanding naval capabilities and its strengthening position in international defense cooperation.(ILKHA)