Turkey seeks $6 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia: Report

Turkish officials speaking to Bloomberg indicated that President Erdoğan’s anticipated visit to Saudi Arabia in March could finalize a $6 billion defense agreement.

Monday January 27 2025 11:12 pm

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Turkey has been aiming to secure a $6 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Bloomberg's Selcan Hacaoğlu, citing Turkish officials familiar with the matter.

The agreement is expected to include Saudi Arabia purchasing warships, tanks, and missiles, as well as participating in Turkey’s fighter jet construction project.

The deal is anticipated to be finalized during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia in March, sources told Bloomberg.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia’s 2023 agreement paved the way for Riyadh to purchase drones from Turkish defense company Baykar. Ankara now aims to expand defense exports by selling missile defense systems and Altay tanks to Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reports.

The deal reportedly includes Saudi Arabia joining Turkey’s domestic fighter jet program, Kaan.

Turkish officials noted that other nations might also join the project. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Jan. 28, likely to discuss the agreement.

While Saudi authorities did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment, Turkey’s Defense Ministry declined to provide any statements.