Turkey will deploy defense industry attachés to its embassies worldwide as part of an effort to bolster arms exports and deepen defense cooperation, according to an announcement by Haluk Görgün, the head of the country’s Defense Industry Agency (SSB), on Monday.
The initial phase of the plan includes 23 countries, with Azerbaijan receiving the first appointee. “We have received approvals for 22 of the 23 planned positions,” Görgün told reporters in Ankara. “These appointments are essential for maintaining continuous engagement with end users in countries where we aim to expand our capabilities.”
Turkey has already posted attachés to Azerbaijan and Pakistan, with further “strategic” countries to be announced later. Görgün explained that these personnel will serve as intermediaries between Turkish defense contractors and potential foreign buyers, helping to identify opportunities for exports, joint production, and technology transfers.
Boom in Defense Exports
Görgün also highlighted the notable growth in Turkey’s defense industry, which expanded by 29 percent in 2024, partly driven by 416 meetings focusing on international defense collaborations and agreements. “We have made a quick start to 2025, with new contracts worth more than $1 billion signed in January,” he said, adding that the sector aims to maintain this monthly average.
According to Görgün, the United States and NATO were the leading buyers of Turkish defense products in 2024, with deliveries totaling $3.7 billion. “We have packages with alternative solutions for each region. There are not many countries that can do this,” he noted.
Turkey is currently the world’s 11th-largest defense exporter and holds defense cooperation agreements with 87 countries. A recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that Turkey’s arms exports have risen by 106 percent over the past four years, reflecting the government’s push to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers by investing heavily in domestic defense capabilities.
Görgün said Turkey’s defense contractors had signed $20 billion worth of contracts over the past two years, predicting continued momentum in exports. Plans are also underway to expand the Defense Industry Support Fund, with guidance from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, to enable mass production of military equipment and platforms for the Defense Ministry and security forces.
Turkey to Station Defense Industry Attachés Abroad to Boost Arms Exports
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