Erdoğan opposes space militarization at IAC congress

At the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opposed the militarization of outer space. He argued that space should not be treated as a collection of spoils for the first nations to arrive and warned against turning the cosmos into an arms race.

During the event, representatives from 21 nations adopted the ‘Antalya Declaration for peaceful use of space’, though the list of signatories has not yet been made public.

Erdoğan also highlighted Turkey's growing space capabilities, noting that the production and integration of a Turkish lunar spacecraft is complete. The vessel, which features 80 percent domestically produced components, is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2027 to conduct lunar orbit research for at least three months. Additionally, Turkey continues to advance its satellite technology, following the launch of Türksat 6A in July 2024 and the recent progress of the Türksat 7A project.