Erdogan hopes that Turkey's missile production will reach a defense level that deters any country from challenging it.
On June 17, Bloomberg reported that Turkish President Erdogan ordered to accelerate the domestic production of medium and long-range missiles to cope with the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The report pointed out that Israel and Iran have launched attacks on each other for five consecutive days, raising concerns that the war might spread to other countries in the Middle East. "We are formulating production plans based on the latest developments in the deterrence reserve levels of long-range missiles," the report said.
The report emphasized that Erdogan has long supported Turkey's efforts to develop an independent defense industry. He has repeatedly called for expanding the production scale of military aircraft, tanks, drones, frigates, and missiles. "I hope that in the near future, we can reach a defense level that deters any country from challenging us." Erdogan believes that the Middle East is facing growing threats from Israel. He warned that this might escalate into larger regional conflicts.
Turkish-Israeli relations deteriorated after Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza Strip in 2023. The tension further escalated after Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military facilities located in the areas where Turkey planned to establish bases.
MEES reported that Israel had obtained modified F-35 fighters capable of directly attacking Iran without refueling. Iran has hidden its main nuclear base inside mountains, which only the U.S. military could destroy.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835227924272128/
Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views.