Erdogan vows fully independent defence industry amid Israel-Iran conflict
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that his country’s defence industry would become fully independent, producing its own warplanes, tanks, drones and frigates, as Israel and Iran traded strikes for a sixth day, Middle East Eye reports.
“We will further increase our domestic and national production rate, which we have raised from 20 percent to 80 percent,” Erdogan said at a Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting.
“We will continue with patience, determination, perseverance, and firm steps until we achieve our goal of full independence in the defence industry,” he added.
Addressing Israeli attacks on Iran and rising tensions in the region, Erdogan said Turkish officials were on high alert and preparing contingency plans for all possible risks.
“We will raise our deterrence to such a level that not only will no one attack us, but no one will even dare to think of it,” he said, adding that Turkey had recently completed a number of national defence projects, including air defence systems, warships, cruise missiles, armed drones, and helicopters.
Erdogan described Israel’s assault on Iran as “state terrorism”, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of disregarding both law and rules.
“It is completely natural, legitimate, and a legal right for Iran to defend itself in the face of Israel’s banditry,” he said, adding that the attacks were carried out while Iran’s nuclear negotiations were ongoing.
After a cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdogan also announced that Ankara was accelerating its production plans to bring medium- and long-range missile stockpiles to a deterrent level.
Key Erdogan ally and nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli warned on Tuesday against Israeli plans in the region, claiming that Israel’s political and strategic objective was to encircle Turkey.
Since Israel launched its assault on Iran last week, Erdogan has held several phone calls with regional leaders – including the presidents of Iran, the United States, and Russia – advocating diplomacy as the only way to resolve the dispute.
On Wednesday, he reiterated that Ankara has no territorial ambitions in the region: “We have no issue with the sovereignty of any country,” he said. “No one should try to test us, challenge us, or push our patience.”
Over the weekend, Erdogan told US President Donald Trump that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme were the only peaceful solution to the conflict, and offered Turkey as a facilitator for peace.
According to sources in Ankara, the Turkish Air Force was placed on high alert as the government convened security meetings to assess potential emergency scenarios and spillover risks following the start of the Israeli military campaign.
In a phone call with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa over the weekend, Erdogan advised Syria to avoid becoming involved in the escalation between Iran and Israel, and to remain vigilant against further risks and possible attacks by terrorist groups.
