������Ƶ

Amid shifting global defense dynamics and escalating geopolitical tensions, Turkiye is making bold strides with its military strategies. By localizing production and asserting its independence, it is positioning itself as an emerging force in the global defense sector. Meanwhile, many Middle East and North Africa countries still rely heavily on Western suppliers for their military needs. The dominance of the US, France and the UK in the region’s arms trade remains undeniable, with America alone exporting about $30 billion in defense equipment to MENA countries in 2023.

Turkiye’s success presents a compelling model for MENA nations, offering valuable lessons in strengthening military sovereignty. By fostering their own defense industries, the countries of the region can reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, enhance their security and bolster regional stability.

Ankara is now recognized as a global military power, ranked ninth out of 145 countries in Global Firepower’s 2025 index. This achievement is driven by its advanced aviation and defense systems, exemplified by the Bayraktar TB2 drone. Turkish defense exporters, such as Aselsan and Turkish Aerospace Industries, have bolstered this growth, aligning with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s goal of making Turkiye a defense technology leader.

In 2023, Turkiye’s defense research and development budget reached $3 billion, pushing local production over 80 percent and supporting a network of 3,500 companies. By 2024, Turkiye had sold nearly 300 defense products to 183 countries, with Europe its largest market. Its export strategy also aligns with a broader diplomatic agenda, strengthening ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Central Asia and Africa, while asserting greater independence from Western suppliers and NATO. In fact, in a market traditionally dominated by the US and European manufacturers, Turkiye has carved out a niche by offering cheaper products and faster deliveries, leveraging large stockpiles originally intended for its own armed forces.

Turkiye’s success presents a compelling model, offering valuable lessons in strengthening military sovereignty

Zaid M. Belbagi

Turkiye’s success offers a valuable model for MENA countries seeking to enhance their defense capabilities. By learning from Turkiye’s experiences, both its successes and challenges, these nations can better strengthen their strategic autonomy.

The evolving nature of modern warfare suggests that MENA countries should shift from acquiring individual advanced systems to fostering integration across multiple domains. Dr. Linus Terhorst recently emphasized, during a lecture in Riyadh focused on 21st-century battlefield capabilities, that long-term security in MENA hinges not on prestige-driven procurement but on integration. The multidomain operations doctrine, which connects land, air, sea, cyber and space capabilities into a unified system, is key to sustainable security. History shows that integrated forces outperform sheer hardware superiority.

For countries like ������Ƶ, Bahrain and Morocco, achieving strategic autonomy requires embracing multidomain operations as the foundation of future defense planning. This doctrine focuses on seamlessly linking capabilities across domains, meaning information flows easily, decisions are made faster and actions are coordinated for maximum impact. This level of integration demands more than importing ready-made technologies, it requires building domestic ecosystems that foster innovation, such as research institutions and startups focused on dual-use technologies like artificial intelligence-powered drones and cyber defense. By investing in these areas, MENA countries can create cohesive, self-sustaining defense solutions.

������Ƶ is prioritizing local defense production to achieve long-term technological self-sufficiency. Through the General Authority for Military Industries and ������Ƶn Military Industries, Riyadh is shifting from import reliance to domestic manufacturing. In 2023, nearly 20 percent of military spending was localized, though the Kingdom still spent $7.5 billion on defense imports, including advanced systems.

Aiming for 50 percent of defense spending to be sourced locally, Saudi companies have formed joint ventures with firms like Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed to facilitate technology transfer. The naval program with Navantia, including Avante 2200 corvettes and the HAZEM combat management system, exemplifies this strategy. Offset agreements with platforms such as the A330 multirole tanker transport are boosting domestic capabilities in training, maintenance and component production, with ������Ƶn Military Industries’ electronics division now producing command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance subsystems locally.

Meanwhile, Morocco is positioning itself as an emerging aerospace hub and a key player in strategic partnerships. The 2021 enactment of Law 10-20 established a solid legal framework for developing a Moroccan defense industry, enabling local companies to manufacture, import and export defense equipment under state supervision. This has led to concrete projects, such as joint ventures with Israel’s BlueBird Aero Systems to produce drones locally.

It is becoming increasingly evident that strengthening military capabilities is essential for ensuring long-term security

Zaid M. Belbagi

Morocco’s aerospace industry, centered on Casablanca, includes companies like MATIS Aerospace and Thales, contributing to its defense manufacturing goals. While major defense platforms are still largely imported, the country has laid the groundwork for the indigenization of certain systems. The challenge now is balancing international partnerships with domestic research and development to ensure interoperability with global partners while fostering autonomous capabilities.

Bahrain is establishing a niche in naval support and maintenance, though it still depends on imports for major platforms. The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard provides reliable maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the Bahrain Defense Force and regional navies. In 2022, the creation of the Military Industries Development Institution marked a significant step toward local production, particularly in shipbuilding and munitions. Bahrain’s growing role as a regional repair hub strengthens the Gulf defense ecosystem and helps diversify MENA’s defense capabilities.

In a multipolar world, suppliers of advanced military systems face increasing competition, with states demanding local assembly, technology transfer and value chain participation. This shift presents an opportunity for local enterprises to gradually build the skills necessary to design and produce indigenous systems, while gaining valuable insights into complex platforms.

As such, Turkiye’s experience offers valuable lessons: success lies not in the number of platforms acquired, but in how well they integrate. Ankara has developed a competitive defense industry capable of manufacturing and exporting systems like the TB2 drones to more than 50 countries through workshare agreements and the integration of local industry into international supply chains.

However, fiscal sustainability is a growing concern, as the cost of combat aircraft is expected to double every 20 years, with lifecycle costs being the main burden. Countries like ������Ƶ and Morocco risk unsustainable debt and inefficiencies if they pursue prestige-driven procurement without a long-term plan. A more practical approach focuses on strategic investments in integrated capabilities, prioritizing command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to create cohesive networks. Digital engineering, simulation tools and unmanned systems offer cost-effective alternatives to expensive manned platforms, promoting long-term sustainability.

As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, particularly in the volatile MENA region, it is becoming increasingly evident that strengthening military capabilities is essential for ensuring long-term security. By building strategic independence and developing adaptable ecosystems, MENA countries can better address evolving threats. This approach will align technological ambition with long-term security and position the region as a leader in defense innovation.

• Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid