Israel-Iran conflict: Turkey ramps up missile production amid fears of wider war
President Erdogan said Ankara aims to boost the deterrence level so that ‘no one would dare to even challenge us’
The move comes as Israel and Iran exchange salvoes for the fifth day in a row, raising fears about a spread of the war to other countries in the oil-rich Middle East. Several geopolitical flashpoints have pushed countries to boost defence spending in recent months, and Turkey aspires to be part of that arms race.
“We are making production plans to bring our medium and long-range missile stocks to a level of deterrence in light of recent developments,” Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting late on Monday.
Erdogan has long championed Turkey’s efforts to develop an independent defence industry capable of making warplanes, tanks, high-flying drones, frigates and now missiles – for export as well as for domestic purposes.
European countries are under pressure to increase defence spending in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the reluctance shown by US President Donald Trump to provide indefinite support to Kyiv, providing trade opportunities for Ankara. In March, Turkey’s Baykar signed a deal to jointly develop drone technologies with Italian firm Leonardo SpA.
Erdogan said the Middle East is facing an increased level of “threat and hostility posed by Israel’s aggression”, and warned that “every step taken in our region without considering the facts invites other disasters to occur in the future”.