Turkish army managing over 600 modernization projects

BERLIN – Anadolu Agency

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are managing more than 600 modernization projects to address the challenges of the world’s new security environment, Lt. General Alpaslan Erdoğan, chief of the Plans and Policy Division of the Turkish General Staff, announced late Dec. 3.

“The TSK is determined to improve their shortfalls and conduct effective defense planning that would ensure continuous transformation, in order to adapt to the new security environment,” Erdoğan said at the closing session of the 13th Berlin Security Conference, also known as the Congress on European Security and Defense.

He underlined that in addition to the modernization projects, recent military procurements and projects will help the TSK fill its capability gaps and utilize its existing capabilities effectively.

These projects include ballistic missile defense, strategic airlift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Lt. General Erdoğan criticized several NATO allies for drastically cutting military spending in recent years and for failing to see the need for improving military capabilities to address new challenges.

“The latest developments have proven that it was not a prudent approach of the new allies and some others to make drastic reductions in their defense expenditures,” Erdoğan said.

He noted that developments in Ukraine, Syria and Iraq have shown the changed characteristics of the recent conflicts and the new nature of the security environment, and underlined that Turkey is among the countries on the front line of these new dangers.

“It is easy to understand the need for strong armed forces in this critical region where Turkey is located,” he said.

Turkey was the partner country of the two-day Berlin Security Conference, which ended Dec. 3.