Belgian minister: Türkiye quietly rising as naval power

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has offered striking praise for Türkiye’s expanding naval capabilities, noting that Ankara is quietly building a formidable maritime presence while the world focuses elsewhere. “While all eyes are focused on the naval arms race between China and the US, Türkiye is quietly emerging as a maritime power,” Francken wrote on X following his visit to Sedef Shipyard in Istanbul.

Domestic production and global competitiveness

Francken observed that Türkiye is not only ordering but also domestically constructing submarines, corvettes, frigates, destroyers, and aircraft carriers. “They are doing so quickly, with high quality and competitive prices. Turkish naval vessels are gradually gaining ground on the global market,” he added. He also noted that the Turkish economy has grown rapidly over the past two decades while successfully navigating recent inflationary pressures. “Hard times require hard measures,” he said, citing a key lesson from Türkiye’s economic management.

Strategic gateway

Francken, part of the Belgian economic mission led by Queen Mathilde, also remarked that “Istanbul is not only a gateway to Central Asia, but also to the Arab world — including in the media sphere. All major Arab media outlets are represented here.” His comments underscored the deepening defence and trade ties between Brussels and Ankara, with Türkiye’s naval industry emerging as a significant player in NATO’s southern flank and global arms markets.