ISTANBUL
Türkiye will "swiftly" advance its national defense projects, and strengthen "win-win" defense cooperation with its European allies, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his addressing to the nation on Monday after chairing a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
"While we swiftly put our domestic and national defense projects into operation, we will strengthen our defense cooperation with our European allies on a win-win basis," Erdogan said.
Noting that Oct. 28 marked the inauguration of the BMC Ankara Tank and Next-Generation Armored Vehicle Production Facility, one of Europe’s top three and the world’s top five such facilities, Erdogan said their aim is to deliver 250 ALTAY tanks to the Turkish Armed Forces within six years.
"I sincerely thank BMC, the Defense Industries Secretariat, every individual involved in the facility’s construction, and especially our project partners," he added.
Mentioning the two important visits last week that strengthened the country’s air defense capacity, first UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and then German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with their delegations in Ankara, he said the meetings discussed all bilateral agenda items including investment, trade, and defense.
He added that a new era began with the agreement on the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
On tourism, Erdogan said the sector continues to advance despite unscrupulous profiteers and regional tensions and conflicts.
Referring to recently released data for the first nine months of 2025, he said: “In the first nine months of 2025, nearly 50 million people visited our country, a 1.6% increase compared to the same period last year. We are also in a strong position regarding tourism revenue.
"Türkiye earned a total of $50 billion in tourism revenue in the first nine months of 2025, a three-quarter record. Revenue increased 5.7% compared to the same period last year. Based on these figures, I can confidently say that we are on track to achieve our year-end target of $64 billion. Another important figure for us is per-capita nightly spending. In the first nine months, foreign visitors’ per-capita nightly spending rose 9% to $116, while for all visitors it was $103. I hope these encouraging figures benefit our country, and I congratulate everyone who contributed."
Mentioning the country's defense projects, such as homegrown fighter jet KAAN, Erdogan said the jets will be included to the inventory of Turkish Air Force "on the timetable we have set."
"Just as HURJET is aiming for leadership in its field, once all processes are complete, KAAN will likewise strive for the top in its category," the president added.
"Spain’s government’s approval last week to purchase 45 HURJETs is proof of this ambitious stance. We have no doubt that more will follow. Despite all overt and covert attempts to block us, Türkiye will continue to make history in the defense industry," he added.
Touching on efforts to create a terror-free country, Erdogan said Türkiye does not want any form of terrorism either in the country, or on its neighbors’ lands, stressing the state's longtime fight against terror.