Ankara, October 31, 2025 – The Europe Today: Türkiye will make no compromises regarding its defense industry and will continue to prioritize its development, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said on Thursday while addressing the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.
Yilmaz underlined that in a world where NATO members have pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP annually to defense needs, and the European Union has launched its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, Türkiye must remain a deterrent force by further strengthening its defense capabilities.
“Türkiye must be a deterrent force and further develop its defense industry in a world where geopolitical risks are rising,” Yilmaz said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to defense self-sufficiency.
He emphasized that Türkiye has always pursued diplomacy and peace as core principles of its foreign policy.
“A concrete example of this is that Türkiye has prioritized diplomacy and peace on many issues — from Gaza to Karabakh, from Ukraine to Somalia and Ethiopia,” he noted.
However, Yilmaz cautioned that moral righteousness alone is insufficient in global affairs.
“No matter how right you are, if you are not strong, you cannot live in this world relying on the mercy of others. We saw this in Gaza. We will be both strong and right. We must do both, and as the Republic of Türkiye, we will do so,” he stated.
Turning to economic matters, the Vice President addressed inflation trends, noting that September’s figures had exceeded expectations and led to a more cautious outlook for the remainder of the year.
“Once we see October’s inflation figures, we will be able to make a more accurate year-end forecast, slightly below or above 30%,” he said.
He explained that inflation stood at around 65% in 2023, dropped to 44% in 2024, and is expected to continue its downward trajectory in the coming years.
“This year, our program target is to see it below 30%, next year below 20%, and the following year, single digits. This is our roadmap,” Yilmaz concluded.
