Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Wednesday lauded Türkiye’s defense industry achievements, particularly in unmanned systems and innovation, urging Belgium to accelerate its own military modernization and drone expansion.
Baykar visit left lasting impression
Speaking at the Türkiye-Belgium Defense Industry Day in Ankara, organized by the Secretariat of Turkish Defence Industries, Francken said cooperation between Turkish and Belgian defense firms has grown following earlier contacts. He recalled visiting Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar three years ago with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, describing the experience as “mind-blowing.” “What I saw at Baykar – all those capabilities, the new technology, the innovation, the R&D, the drive and the growth – was mind-blowing for me,” he said. He told colleagues in Belgium that Türkiye is “way ahead” in defense modernization and unmanned warfare. “We also need to modernize our army and armed forces and move toward more unmanned capabilities, innovation and adaptation,” he added.
Belgium boosts defense budget by 60%
Francken said one of his first decisions as defense minister was appointing what he called the world’s first “drone general” to lead Belgium’s military transformation. He noted that Belgium is increasing its defense budget by 60%—the largest rise among NATO allies—with potential for further increases. He expects Belgian and Turkish companies to sign seven or eight agreements, with negotiations ongoing on several others. “For me, foreign trade is about contacts and contracts,” he said.
Turkish official hails ‘historic’ visit
Haluk Görgün, Secretary of Turkish Defence Industries, described the Belgian delegation’s visit as “historic” for Türkiye’s defense sector, noting that more than 4,000 companies operate in the industry. He emphasized that cooperation opportunities range from platform-level systems to subsystems and components. “We are not limited to seven or eight agreements. We are open to cooperation at every level,” Görgün said, adding that further announcements could come ahead of upcoming NATO meetings. Türkiye continues to expand its defense exports and partnerships with European allies, with Belgian officials recognizing Ankara’s growing role in shaping NATO’s technological future.