Defense industry cooperation between Türkiye and Brazil is entering a new phase. The defense industry cooperation agreement approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee provides a broad framework covering joint production, technology transfer, and reciprocal procurement processes between the two countries. Through this agreement, Brazil’s defense industry requirements are expected to be met by Turkish defense companies, while both sides aim to strengthen their position in international markets by developing joint projects. This development also shows that the production and export capacity achieved by Türkiye’s defense industry is becoming increasingly visible in a strategic region such as Latin America.

Among the most notable aspects of the agreement are joint production and technology transfer. The two countries are not limiting their partnership to direct product sales, but are also considering the export of jointly manufactured defense products to third countries. In this way, Turkish defense firms are expected to gain access to new market opportunities, while Brazil will have the chance to enhance its industrial infrastructure through advanced technology partnerships. Türkiye’s first-ever jet engine export to Brazil last year also demonstrated that this process rests on a solid commercial and technological foundation rather than being limited to diplomatic engagement alone.

Statements made by Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay before lawmakers offered a clearer picture of the scale of the bilateral relationship. Bozay noted that Brazil is the largest defense spender in Latin America and the Caribbean, with approximately 25 billion dollars in defense expenditures, and emphasized that ties with Türkiye have recently gained significant momentum. According to Bozay, cooperation will go beyond the purchase and sale of weapons, ammunition, and non-lethal materials, extending into more advanced areas such as joint technology development, the sharing of engineering capabilities, and co-production of defense platforms. This approach also underlines that Türkiye is no longer positioning itself solely as a supplier, but increasingly as a strategic technology partner.

In particular, memorandums of understanding signed between TUSAŞ and Brazil-based Akaer Engenharia and Embraer are opening the door to major aerospace projects. Work is ongoing between TUSAŞ and Embraer to establish a joint aircraft production platform, while discussions are also being held on the co-production of AKSUNGUR and ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles tailored to Brazil’s requirements. At the same time, cooperation in the field of jet engines signals that the technical partnership between the two countries may deepen further in the coming period. The fact that ROKETSAN and Baykar are also in talks with Brazilian companies regarding the sale of defense products shows that this cooperation will not remain limited to aviation, but may expand into a broader defense ecosystem. The growing defense industry partnership between Türkiye and Brazil is likely to generate strategic outcomes in terms of both technology sharing and joint competitiveness in global markets.