While Turkish foreign policy makers have been emphasizing concepts such as ‘soft power’ and ‘zero-problems policy’ after the ascent of the AKP government in 2002, the Arab Spring effectively heralded an era in which Turkey is retaining its soft power advantages, while simultaneously pursuing a more Realist (as in IR theory) outlook, similar to its pre-2002 Kemalist foreign policy.
The best example of Turkey’s renewed emphasis on ‘high politics’ is its consistently record breaking arms sales. In 2009, prominent Hurriyet Daily News had already reported a new record in Turkish arms sales. Turkish Defense Industry Manufacturers Association (SaSad) statistics indicated that “despite the global financial crisis” Turkey had exported $669-million worth defense equipment in 2009. According to SaSad figures, the Turkish defense industry exported arms worth $331 million in 2003, $196 million in 2004, $337 million in 2005, $352 million in 2006 and $420 million in 2007. Out of the 2008 figure of $576 million, a 33 percent went to space and aviation; another 29 percent to land vehicles and other platforms; 13 percent to electronics and electro-optics; 9 percent to weapons, ammunition, rockets and missiles; 9 percent to software and information technologies; and another 7 percent other sectors.
Recent data, published by the government arms production/supply agency, Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) indicates that Turkey broke another record in 2011 selling worth 850-million Turkish Lira defense equipment across “five continents”, also receiving worth 350-million TL orders from Turkey’s various defense agencies. MKEK indicated that the chief buyer of Turkish defense productions is Saudi Arabia, which bought 44.6 million TL-worth supplies, including the 9,350 SS30 rocket artillery, which has a range of up to 30 miles. Following Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman emerged as the chief buyers of Turkish arms. Panama, Philippines and Switzerland are also mentioned as important buyers. Domestically, MKEK oversees the nationalization of Turkey’s arms production along 127 R&D projects, including national tank, infantry rifle, support rifle, sniper rifle and portable howitzer projects with a combined budget of 283 million TL.
For a detailed account of Turkey’s booming defense industry, see: Robert Ackerman, ‘Turkey’s Defense Industry Matures’ – Signal Magazine. September 2010
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