ABSTRACT
Türkiye’s defence and strategic posture in early February 2026 reflected a decisive push toward industrial expansion, regional military integration, and geopolitical repositioning. Defence electronics major Aselsan announced plans to expand into at least five new countries through overseas mergers and acquisitions, backed by record export growth and a $1.5 billion new production facility in Ankara. Defence exports and joint production dominated Türkiye’s external engagements, most notably a $350 million defence package with Egypt that formalised a military framework agreement and included air defence systems, ammunition production, and technology transfer. At the operational level, Türkiye demonstrated growing naval-drone maturity when the Bayraktar TB3 conducted a live strike from TCG Anadolu during NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, marking the first overseas operational use of a Turkish shipborne UCAV. Türkiye’s defence industry also emerged prominently at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, signing multiple agreements with Saudi partners covering missiles, unmanned naval systems, helicopters, laser weapons, and ammunition, reinforcing Ankara’s role as a key supplier and co-producer in the Gulf. Diplomatically, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt underscored Ankara’s pursuit of a regional defence platform involving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while also recalibrating ties with the EU and deepening engagement with China. Collectively, these developments highlight Türkiye’s transition from a defence importer to a regional defence-industrial and strategic node.
