Ahmet IŞIKTEKİNER / Defensehere
Türkiye’s longstanding ambition to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon jets has turned into yet another diplomatic marathon. Despite being one of NATO’s most strategically critical members, Ankara finds itself trapped in a familiar pattern. In the past, it was Patriot missiles. Now it’s fighter jets. And while this time the mood seems more optimistic, the process still hasn’t reached a conclusion.
Türkiye has already secured support from the UK, Spain and Italy for the Eurofighter deal. At IDEF 2025, Turkish and British defense ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding, a significant political step. Eurofighter CEO Jorge Tamarit-Degenhardt welcomed the agreement, calling the Typhoon “the major asset in keeping our skies safe.” Still, there’s one key country dragging its feet: Germany.Berlin’s reluctance has little to do with technical or strategic concerns. It’s political. And it’s becoming harder to justify, especially at a time when NATO unity is more crucial than ever.
Let’s be honest. NATO countries have shown no hesitation in arming non-NATO states across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Advanced defense systems are greenlit to deter Russia, China or Iran without much delay. But Türkiye, which sits at the intersection of Europe and the Middle East and guards NATO’s southeastern flank, often gets treated differently. Its legitimate defense needs are too often sidelined or stalled.
The Patriot story is a perfect example. Türkiye requested them repeatedly, but was turned away. That pushed Ankara to turn to Russia for the S-400 system, sparking a crisis that led to its ejection from the F-35 program. The F-35s it had already paid for remain grounded in American hangars.
Even Donald Trump called out the hypocrisy:
“The Obama administration didn't sell them the Patriots. Turkey tried hard to buy them and they refused to sell. So Turkey bought from Russia. Then we said, ‘OK, now we’ll sell you the Patriots,’ but by that time it was too late. Turkey had signed a deal with Russia and made a serious payment because they weren’t allowed to buy from us. Turkey is a NATO member.”
This string of refusals forced Türkiye to double down on its domestic defense capabilities. And it worked. The country now boasts a defense sector that rivals some of Europe’s biggest.
Türkiye’s Industrial Rise
From drones to armored vehicles, Türkiye has become a heavyweight in defense production. Baykar has emerged as a leader in unmanned systems. CANIK, Sarsılmaz, TİSAŞ and GİRSAN are widely regarded as top-tier firearm manufacturers. Otokar, FNSS, Nurol Makina and BMC are shaping global trends in armored vehicles. And beyond that, five Turkish companies are listed among the world’s top 100 defense firms: ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace, ROKETSAN, MKE and ASFAT. Türkiye is now tied with France as the third country with the most firms on that list, after the United States and the United Kingdom.This is not just an industrial success. It’s a strategic opportunity for NATO.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made this point clear:
“Türkiye has a very big defense industrial base. Sometimes we forget what they have. I visited some of their companies. It’s really impressive. We have to make sure that the Turkish defense industry is as closely connected as possible with the UK, Norway and the European Union.”
He also warned:
“Let’s not have these fences drawn up within NATO. It won’t help.”
Germany is preparing to submit more than 80 defense projects to its parliament by the end of the year. These include major programs like the modernization of Taurus cruise missiles and new Eurofighter acquisitions. According to documents seen by Reuters, all purchases over 25 million euros must be approved by the Bundestag’s budget committee.
But here’s the irony. While Berlin deliberates over Eurofighters for Türkiye, it has been pouring billions in weapons into Ukraine with unmatched speed. Shipments are greenlit in days. Ammunition is sent by the ton. Yet when it comes to a NATO ally, the gears grind slowly.
This contradiction becomes even more glaring in light of the ongoing ammunition crisis across Europe. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said it plainly: Russia produces in three months what all of NATO produces in a year. It’s a massive vulnerability, and one that requires urgent collective action. Denying Türkiye the tools to defend itself and to contribute further to Europe’s security only deepens this gap.
Türkiye is not just asking to buy jets. It is offering partnership. It’s offering strategic depth, industrial cooperation and deterrence. It already hosts key NATO facilities. It maintains one of the alliance’s largest standing armies. And it sits on the fault lines of every major regional threat.
Germany must decide whether it wants to empower NATO as a whole or continue signaling mistrust toward one of its key members. If Berlin truly cares about the alliance, then it should prioritize alliance cohesion over domestic hesitation.
Türkiye’s contributions are clear. What it needs is to be treated as a true partner, not a client.
This is especially critical at a time when Europe is facing a growing ammunition shortage and struggling to scale up defense production. While billions are being funneled into urgent shipments for Ukraine, NATO’s long-term resilience depends on building lasting industrial cooperation within the alliance.
Türkiye is one of the few member states with expanding manufacturing capacity and real output. Ignoring this reality is not just short-sighted. It undermines NATO’s ability to prepare for the future. In moments like these, Türkiye is not just a partner of convenience. It is a strategic necessity.