Turkey’s Defence Industry Grows, with Western Help

Turkey is touting its domestic defence industry, but its expansion remains dependent on Western know-how.

Acall by Greece last month for its European Union partners to consider an arms embargo on Turkey in a standoff over maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean has highlighted the growing collaboration between the Turkish defence industry and EU-based defence manufacturers, to the concern of Athens.

Greece sought to include a provision on a possible arms embargo in the conclusions of the European Council meeting on October 18 but was blocked, Brussels-based sources say, by a number of countries including Germany, Italy, Spain and Hungary.

Days later, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias pressed his case bilaterally with Germany, Italy and Spain, without success.

Athens has good reason to be worried.