Turkey's Military and Defense Policies.

• Author: Akar, Hulusi
• Position: COMMENTARY

Introduction

Security has undergone a fundamental transformation since the end of the Cold War on the domestic, regional and international levels. Evolving from a state-centric understanding to a human-centric one, there has been also transformation in the definition of security. As a concept, security is the prevention and elimination of identified, actualized or probable risks, threats and dangers that cause human beings to experience anxiety and concern. In keeping with this definition, all of the security policies and strategies set by the Republic of Turkey are for the protection of humans and human dignity within the regional and global security landscape, and are based on the understanding of "let man flourish, and the state will also flourish" originating from Turkey's historical and cultural heritage.

Following the proclamation of the Republic, Turkey preserved its defense-oriented military strategy, which was based on the requirements of the post-World War I security environment, until the emergence of terror threat in the 1980s. From then onward, Turkey began forming its military operation and develop firepower to support its defense strategies with domestic and national technologies. Due to the increasing asymmetric threats in its surrounding neighborhood, Turkey has concentrated its military strategy on generating a cross-border security and stability corridor since 2016 and has supported this new strategy with the development of high technology systems in its defense industry.

Turkey's defense industry has a great historical background. In the first years of the Republic, some significant steps were taken, notably in the direction of setting up arms and ammunition factories and cannon repair shops, as well as marine and aviation industries. In the aftermath of World War II, Turkey continued to improve its defense capabilities within the framework of the strategies of the alliances of which Turkey was, and still is, a part, namely the UN and NATO. Military demands arising from the Cyprus Peace Operation conducted between 1960 and 1974 and the arms embargo imposed on Turkey revealed the need for a strong national defense industry. In line with these demands, Turkey's efforts to improve its national defense industry have progressed with a vision of having a self-sufficient army in military and defense terms (i.e. the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, Turkish Aerospace, ASELSAN, ASPiLSAN, HAVELSAN and ROKETSAN).

Following the end of the Cold War, the changing nature of the global and regional geopolitical environment made a huge impact on Turkey's security perception. Since the 1990s, increasing global...