TURKISH MILITARY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS AND MILITARY INDUSTRY CAPABILITIES OF FORCE PROJECTION IN THE LIGHT OF GEOPOLITICAL GOALS

Abstract

The study examines a specific segment of the Turkish military industry capabilities in the light of the country’s geopolitical aims. In the transformation of the international system, we can simultaneously see the change in the distribution of military capabilities. While U.S. hegemony and the Western liberal order are increasingly challenged, superpowers’ realism based on politicization of interests is gaining ground on the international political arena. As for Ankara’s place in the international system, Turkey is not a global power in terms of its relative power, but more like one of the regional powers while it wants to become a global player in the future. However, Turkey can be described as a major military producer and exporter in the international arena. Turkish-made military equipment, such as drones, is already being used in many parts of the world, which supports Ankara’s geopolitical interests and force projection capabilities.