As they built, we were dismantling

In 1974-75, Turkey found itself in a very difficult position. The US Congress imposed an arms embargo on Ankara in reaction to Turkey's invasion of Cyprus. But Ankara did not stay idle in this crucial sector for too long. It made the decision to establish its own sector from scratch. The country invested money in developing a defense industry, it worked with Israeli firms to gain the necessary know-how, and set ambitious goals.

The shock of the American embargo mobilized Turkey's deep state. Ankara decided that it would never again be held ransom to the US or any other foreign power.

What we see and read today goes back to that time 45 ago. It takes time, systematic work, discipline and patience to make such an achievement. Today Turkey has shipbuilding capabilities. It has made alarming progress in drone technology, which was made evident in the Armenia-Azerbaijan...