Erdoğan says Türkiye, Saudi Arabia to boost defense cooperation, praises interest in KAAN fighter jet

2026-02-05 - 11:25

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated on Wednesday that Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will deepen their cooperation in the defense industry, highlighting that the Turkish-made KAAN stealth fighter has drawn strong interest from Riyadh. Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Cairo, Erdoğan said, “We have received a lot of positive feedback on KAAN. There is a joint investment with Saudi Arabia in this area, and we can implement this partnership at any moment.” He emphasized that Ankara and Riyadh have already signed significant defense industry agreements and that Türkiye is determined to expand them. Regional Diplomacy and Gaza Regarding escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, Erdoğan expressed hope that differences would be resolved through dialogue, reiterating the importance of establishing a diplomatic table. On the situation in Gaza, he affirmed that Türkiye will take an active role to ensure the “proper” implementation of the Gaza peace plan and to restore stability in the besieged enclave. Erdoğan’s comments follow his visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week, part of a broader diplomatic push to strengthen Türkiye’s regional partnerships and advance joint economic and security initiatives. The KAAN fighter, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), represents a cornerstone of Türkiye’s push for defense industrial independence and export growth.