Turkish defense minister meets British official at SAHA 2026 in Istanbul

Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler on Thursday met British House of Lords Minister Vernon Coaker on the sidelines of the SAHA 2026 defense fair in Istanbul. According to a post shared on Türkiye's social media platform NSosyal, Güler continued holding talks with visiting ministers during SAHA 2026. No further details on the meeting were provided by officials.

SAHA 2026 highlights

The international defense and aerospace event SAHA 2026 is being held in Istanbul on May 5-9, highlighting the global visibility of Türkiye's homegrown technological initiatives. Türkiye's Defense Industries Secretary Haluk Görgün told Anadolu that the SAHA Istanbul Defense and Aerospace Cluster has brought dynamism to the sector through significant contributions, while providing stakeholders with opportunities for global visibility.

Strategic showcase

"The event, organized under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, will serve as a strategic showcase, bringing Türkiye's defense, aviation, and space vision to the world," he said. "The event will help reinforce the country's technological independence with the further global visibility of our homegrown initiatives, in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's 'Century of Türkiye' program."

Technology focus

Held under the motto "Master Technology, Shape the Future," SAHA 2026 provides a platform for Turkish firms to showcase achievements and discuss future technological capabilities. Görgün said Türkiye's defense industry is advancing through a high-tech-focused R&D strategy and the collective efforts of a broad ecosystem comprising prime contractors, SMEs, universities, and startups.