Turkey is preparing to ratify framework military agreements with three Balkan countries that surround Greece

Greece has expressed concern over the strengthening of Turkey’s defense collaborations, especially in areas of historical and strategic significance. The Balkans have long been a field of influence competition between NATO allies and external powers, and Turkey’s deepening military relations with these countries indicate its intention to play a more active role in shaping regional security.

The agreements were quickly pushed onto the agenda of the Turkish Parliament, in contrast to the usual lengthy approval processes for similar military agreements. Ankara views them as part of a broader strategy to enhance defense cooperation and address regional security threats.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Under the agreements, Turkey and its partners will collaborate in various military and defense sectors such as training, joint exercises, defense industry cooperation, information exchange, logistics support, medical services, cyber defense, peacekeeping missions, and countering mines and improvised explosive devices. They also provide for personnel exchanges, joint research in military science and technology, and operational cooperation in humanitarian aid and disaster response missions.

Turkey considers these formal military agreements as a springboard for deeper defense ties and future agreements, starting with drone sales by Baykar, but expanding to various defense products. Nordic Monitor reported that Turkey uses broader framework agreements to keep the details of subsequent agreements hidden from public view.

Brigadier General Esat Mahmut Yilmaz revealed that Turkey consolidated the three agreements into one framework to expedite its participation in military operations abroad. Once ratified and published in the Official Gazette, the Turkish military will be able to enter into secondary agreements with foreign partners without further parliamentary approval, limiting public discussion on Turkey’s military activities abroad.

Source: pagenews.gr