In a historic move signaling a potential shift in Asia–Europe defense relations, Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani paid an official visit to Türkiye from August 17 to 22—the first-ever visit of its kind by a Japanese defense chief. The visit marks the beginning of a new era in bilateral ties, with defense industry cooperation taking center stage.
As part of his trip, Nakatani toured key Turkish defense institutions, including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Türkiye's prominent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) producer Baykar, and major naval shipyards in Istanbul. His itinerary reflected growing Japanese interest in Türkiye's rapidly advancing defense technologies, particularly in the fields of UAVs, naval platforms, and jet trainers.
While no formal defense agreement was signed during the visit, officials from both sides described the meetings as highly productive and forward-looking. Discussions focused heavily on Türkiye's proven capabilities in drone technologies, with special attention given to platforms such as the Bayraktar TB2, AKSUNGUR, and the TB3, which is capable of shipborne operations.
The Japanese delegation also expressed interest in Türkiye's HÜRJET advanced jet trainer and the country's recent efforts to modernize and convert naval vessels into aircraft-capable platforms—areas that align with Japan's current needs and strategic priorities.
Türkiye's defense industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, with a domestic production rate exceeding 80 percent and exports reaching over USD 5.5 billion in 2024 alone. Turkish defense products are now used in more than 170 countries, and the country has emerged as one of the world's top drone exporters.
Deeper cooperation between Japan and Türkiye in defense technologies could reshape the security landscape and open new avenues for joint development, technology transfer, and interoperability.