President Erdogan says Pakistan-Turkey defense ties have “great potential”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the groundbreaking ceremony of the third warship for Pakistan Navy under Turkey’s MILGEM Ada-class corvette project and pledged stronger defense collaboration between Pakistan and Turkish.
Turkey’s President Erdogan also launched the country’s first indigenous frigate Istanbul (F-515) on the same day.
Pakistan and Turkey’s defense collaboration “has great potential”, the Turkish President said. “We are taking a historical brotherhood between Turkey and Pakistan one step further” with the MILGEM class warships partnership.
“Both countries are facing similar challenges. Like Turkey, Pakistan also struggled against many terrorist threats in a difficult region” he said, adding that it makes defense collaboration imperative for the two countries.
Groundbreaking ceremony
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkey, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, jointly performed the welding ceremony’ of the third of the four MILGEM Ada class corvette for the Pakistan Navy at ceremony in Istanbul on Januaey 23, 2021.
Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Şentop, Minister of National Defence of Turkey Hulusi Akar, Chief of Turkish General Staff General Yaşar Guler, Commander of Turkish Naval Forces Admiral Adnan Ozbal, and other dignitaries attended both the ceremonies.
Pakistan Navy signed a contract with Turkey’s Military Factory and Shipyard Management Corporation (ASFAT) in July 2018 to acquire four MILGEM-class ships.
Turkey’s defense development
Turkey is one of the 10 countries in the world which can build, design, and maintain warships using its national capabilities.
Speaking about naval capabilities, President Erdogan shared major improvements in the Turkish navy’s submarine, aircraft carrier and naval defense capacity. Turkey’s indigenously-designed new aircraft carrier will further promote Turkey to the top league in the naval field, he said.
Turkey is also working on submarine technology and will put into service six of its new submarines starting in 2022.
Turkish President also commended the country’s progress on UAVs and drones, saying Turkey is now also among the top four countries globally in terms of the production of unmanned and armed unmanned aerial vehicles.