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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) on Tuesday, declaring the event a testament to Türkiye's journey toward military independence and technological sovereignty in an increasingly unstable global environment.
Speaking at the Istanbul Fair Center, Erdogan described IDEF as "one of the world's three largest and most influential defense fairs," emphasizing that the gathering represents far more than a commercial exhibition of military hardware.
"Today, we are witnessing not only the development of Turkish defense industry, but also a nation's march toward independence— we see the story of a country rising in its own sky with its own wings," Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was organized with Anadolu Agency serving as the "Global Communication Partner."
The six-day fair is hosting 937 delegation members representing 219 delegations from 99 countries and international organizations. Nearly 1,000 domestic companies and more than 400 foreign firms will showcase their products across land, air, sea, space and cybersecurity sectors. Organizers expect over 120,000 professional visitors to attend through Sunday.
Erdogan emphasized that the fair should not be viewed merely as a commercial activity or international marketplace for defense industry products. "As I always say, the issue is not about shopping. The real issue is to establish long-term partnerships on a win-win basis. The issue is to develop permanent cooperation along with trade," he said.
The president extended thanks to participating companies and delegations, stating that Türkiye is prepared for and open to multi-faceted cooperation agreements that could emerge from the event.
Erdogan painted a stark picture of the current global security environment, describing a world where "power balances are being redetermined, global centers of gravity are shifting, and international competition is increasingly intensifying."
He detailed how Türkiye's geographical position and historical ties make it particularly susceptible to regional instability, citing ongoing conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine and tensions spanning from South Asia to North Africa.
"We are surrounded by a ring of fire, and we don't say this for rhetoric. On the contrary, we are expressing a reality we experience every day," Erdogan said.
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The president made particularly strong statements regarding the situation in Gaza, declaring: "The suffering of children who have been reduced to skin and bones due to hunger because humanitarian aid is not allowed to enter Gaza is our suffering." He described current conditions as surpassing Nazi-era atrocities and called for international unity against what he termed genocide.
Erdogan also addressed concerns about Syria following the Dec. 8 revolution that ended 13.5 years of conflict, and highlighted security threats in the Black Sea region as major sources of anxiety for Türkiye.
Despite facing numerous embargoes and diplomatic pressures throughout its recent history, particularly during the 1960s Cyprus events and 1990s counterterrorism operations, Türkiye has transformed its defense capabilities dramatically.
Erdogan recalled how supposed allies provided insufficient support during critical periods, with maintenance aircraft being confiscated and basic communication equipment like radios being denied to the country. "Every embargo, every pressure and every injustice opened a new door," he said, describing how these challenges ultimately drove Türkiye toward self-reliance.
The results of this transformation are now evident in concrete numbers. Defense and aviation exports reached $7.154 billion in 2024, representing a 29% increase and exceeding the target of $6.5 billion by 11%. The sector's localization rate has climbed from 20% when Erdogan's government took office to over 80% today.
More than 3,500 companies now employ 100,000 qualified personnel across the defense sector, managing over 1,380 projects with a combined turnover exceeding $20 billion. Turkish defense companies exported products to 180 different countries in 2024, with June 2025 exports reaching $623 million, representing a 10.4% increase over the previous year.
Türkiye has emerged as one of the world's top three countries in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, with Turkish companies supplying 65 out of every 100 UAVs sold globally last year. The country's combat drones have gained particular attention for their game-changing concepts that are transforming traditional tactics and strategies worldwide.
In naval capabilities, Türkiye ranks among only 10 countries globally that can design, develop and produce their own warships. The nation has become the world's 11th largest defense exporter, with its unmanned aerial vehicles, national ship projects, electronic systems, land vehicles, weapons and ammunition being sought after internationally.
Looking toward future technologies, Erdogan outlined plans to enhance competitiveness in laser and electromagnetic weapon systems, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, quantum technology and artificial intelligence. He identified the country's qualified and dynamic human resources as a key advantage in achieving these technological leaps.
The president announced the launch of a major transformation called the "National Competency Initiative in Defense Industry," aimed at creating a systematic structure within the defense industry ecosystem. He emphasized that this initiative, personally approved and directed by him, will help build "a much bigger and stronger Türkiye that inspires confidence in friends and fear in enemies."
The opening ceremony concluded with military parades featuring air and land vehicles, and the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Presidency of Defense Industries head Haluk Gorgun, and Turkish Armed Forces Foundation General Director Bilal Topcu.
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