Turkey, Spain sign agreement on defense cooperation

- Turkey also signs letter of intent with consortium to explore joint production of anti-ballistic missile system

Turkey signed a letter of intent with Spain on Wednesday on developing defense industry cooperation including joint work to develop a landing platform dock.

The letter was signed by Turkey’s National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli and Spanish Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal Garcia following a NATO meeting in Brussels of member states’ defense ministers.

The agreement envisages further relations in all sectors of the defense industry including land, air and maritime systems as well as research and development.

Canikli said the two countries have been working to strengthen defense sector cooperation, adding “developing a landing platform dock is one important example of this cooperation”.

Earlier in the day, another letter of intent was signed between Turkey, France and Italy to develop an anti-ballistic missile system between Turkey and a French-Italian consortium.

Under the pact, Turkey’s defense industry and the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium will work together to determine needs and priorities for potential joint production of a SAMP-T anti-ballistic missile system.

Along with Canikli, French Defense Minister Florence Parly and Italian Defense Minister Robert Pinotti attended the signing ceremony.

By Sarp Ozer in Brussels

Anadolu Agency

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