Turkey's defense industry sees rise of 'the president’s men'

The authoritarian normalization that continues to mark relations between Turkey’s political and military echelons since the 2016 failed coup is now affecting the policymaking process in the country's defense industry. The industry is the new favorite of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the bruising financial crisis heavily hit his former favorite sector, construction.

Four major reasons are behind Erdogan's piqued interest in the defense industry: First, Erdogan's popular support drastically increased after Turkey’s Oct. 9 incursion into Syria, known as Operation Peace Spring. Second, the defense industry is a good tool for producing success stories to divert public attention at a time of economic crisis. Third, success in the defense realm offers political gains in foreign policy. And finally, it creates profitable export opportunities to several countries including Qatar, Pakistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and some African nations.

Thus, businessmen close to Erdogan — a group I call “the president’s men” — are now in a race to grab a piece of the pie. However, it's still hard to say that Erdogan’s circle has taken full control of the defense industry’s capital and the political decision-making processes. 

Turkey's defense industry is basically composed of three sectors, each competing for a bigger share and trying to establish a monopoly over certain branches of the industry in both domestic and foreign markets.