Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Germany to reassess its security posture, intensify support for Kyiv and strengthen its own defense production. Facing shortfalls in NATO supply and a shrinking network of reliable partners, Berlin has been actively looking for new industrial and military collaborations — and increasingly sees Turkey as a practical partner.
Turkish defense analyst Caglar Kurc says the conflict exposed gaps in NATO’s manufacturing capacity and pushed European states to expand output. Germany has responded by pursuing partnerships that can bolster immediate production and provide long-term industrial cooperation. High-level meetings late last year, including talks between German politicians and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, underlined that defense cooperation is now central to bilateral relations.
German officials describe Turkey as a NATO member with useful capabilities and geographical advantages. After the United States, Turkey has the alliance’s second-largest armed forces, and its defense industry has expanded quickly. In 2022 four Turkish firms — Baykar, Aselsan, TAI and Roketsan — entered SIPRI’s list of the world’s 100 largest arms companies for the first time, raising Turkey’s profile among European defense planners.
Industry and policy experts argue there are mutual gains from closer ties. Benedikt Meng, a German defense expert, points out that Turkey’s role in the Middle East and the Caucasus makes deeper industrial and policy links attractive for shared security interests. Turkey can be both a supplier and a market for German and European companies, and already there are concrete projects: from 2027 Turkish firm Repkon is slated to produce 155 mm artillery shells in Germany — the NATO standard used in many howitzers supplying Ukraine — a move described in Turkish media as technology transfer and seen by analysts as symbolically important.
Drones are a major driver of Turkey’s rising defense reputation. Turkish unmanned systems played prominent roles in conflicts such as Nagorno-Karabakh and are in use in Ukraine; several EU members have procured them. Baykar’s TB2 platform, incorporating some German-made sensors, has attracted particular attention. Baykar has also formed international partnerships, including a joint venture with Italy’s Leonardo. German military procurement officials say Germany should closely examine Turkish drone capabilities for possible cooperation and market intelligence.
At the same time, relations have not been without friction. Past disagreements — for example over German deployments in Syria and the 2017 relocation of Tornado reconnaissance jets from Incirlik to Jordan — remain part of the recent history. Human-rights concerns and Turkey’s outreach to China and Russia complicate deeper alignment. German officials acknowledge a dilemma: while democratic reforms in Turkey are desirable, strategic necessities and defense needs limit how far Germany can press the issue without damaging vital cooperation.
Despite those tensions, Berlin has softened some criticism to keep NATO ties intact. Turkey has signaled interest in closer integration with European defense schemes: in October it formally submitted an application to participate in the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, which offers loans and support to strengthen the defense industry; the Commission is reviewing the bid.
Analysts emphasize practical benefits: Turkey’s production capacity, willingness to cooperate and growing technical expertise could accelerate European rearmament efforts — particularly in areas where Europe is still developing its own solutions, such as armed drones and ammunition manufacturing. For Germany, working with Turkey is being framed less as a political endorsement and more as a pragmatic step to shore up NATO supply chains and boost collective defense capabilities.