Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani conducted a historic visit to Türkiye, marking the first defense minister-level engagement between the two countries. Following a meeting in Ankara with Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister Nakatani traveled to Istanbul for a series of high-level defense and aerospace meetings aimed at exploring cooperation opportunities.

The Japanese delegation’s first stop was the Istanbul Shipyard Command, where they were welcomed by Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin. Nakatani toured the facilities, examined a detailed model of Türkiye’s upcoming national aircraft carrier, and participated in a symbolic welding ceremony—a gesture symbolizing the two nations’ mutual interest in naval technology collaboration. Discussions reportedly focused on shipbuilding capabilities, defense manufacturing, and potential areas of joint research and production.

The visit continued at the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center, headquarters of Baykar. Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and CEO Haluk Bayraktar briefed the Japanese delegation on Baykar’s UAV ecosystem, including autonomous flight technologies, mission control systems, and command-and-control software. Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), also attended, emphasizing that the meetings were held at both industrial and institutional levels, signaling growing bilateral engagement in defense technology and innovation.

Minister Nakatani later visited TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries), where he received information about Türkiye’s aircraft development programs, rotary-wing platforms, engine technologies, and structural manufacturing capabilities. According to Japanese media, Nakatani gathered extensive information on several Turkish defense products—especially the globally recognized unmanned aerial systems—indicating Japan’s growing interest in Türkiye’s indigenous defense advancements.

The timing of this visit is significant, coming amid shifts in the global and regional security landscape where technological self-sufficiency plays an increasingly critical role. Türkiye’s rapid progress in domestic defense technologies and its expanding export potential have made it a focal point for international cooperation. Nakatani’s visits to the Istanbul Shipyard, Baykar, and TUSAŞ underscored both nations’ intent to deepen strategic dialogue and open pathways for future collaboration in defense production, training, and innovation.