Turkey boosts global economic and defence partnerships

Turkey is highlighting the growing influence of its diaspora and defence industry abroad. In Amsterdam, the World Turkish Business Council and DEIK hosted a summit noting that Turkish entrepreneurs in Germany (about 3.5 million people, 100 000 firms generating €90 billion and employing half a million) and the Netherlands (over 50 000 firms) are becoming a major economic force. The event featured Turgut Torunoğulları, who turned a small steel‑pot business into the multinational EdelStaal Group with 4 000 employees and partnerships with European firms such as VDL Group.

At the same time, Turkey is deepening defence cooperation with the United States. DEIK president Nail Olpak said the Turkey‑US defence roundtable held on the sidelines of the 36th NATO State and Government Leaders’ Summit underscored mutual strategic advantages. Delegates included Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Salih Ayhan, U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Michael Duffey and senior industry leaders from twelve Turkish and eight American companies, discussing supply‑chain resilience and joint projects that could expand Turkey’s production capacity and integrate it further into the U.S. defence ecosystem.