Turkey’s defense budget is one of the most significant public expenditure areas shaped by the country’s goals of ensuring national security, strengthening regional deterrence, and protecting strategic interests. The defense budget covers the operational needs of the armed forces, personnel expenditures, maintenance and sustainment activities, as well as large-scale modernization programs, directly reflecting the state’s long-term security vision. Factors such as shifting geopolitical dynamics, border security challenges, and counterterrorism efforts play a decisive role in budget planning. In this respect, Turkey’s defense budget is not merely a military expense, but a long-term investment in security and stability.

From a more technical perspective, the defense budget has a multi-layered structure that includes domestic defense industry projects, R&D activities, technology development, and procurement processes. In recent years, the rise in local and national production capacity has significantly increased the economic return of defense spending. In the case of Türkiye, defense budget allocations have contributed to the development of domestic capabilities in areas such as unmanned systems, air defense, naval platforms, and electronic warfare. This progress has reduced external dependency while simultaneously supporting defense exports, thereby enhancing the strategic and economic value of the budget. Today, Turkey’s defense budget stands out as a planned and balanced policy instrument designed to align security needs with fiscal sustainability and long-term national objectives.