- Oct 3, 2018
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The Ministry functions under the executive authority of the President of the Republic and is accountable to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye through the annual defense budget and legislative oversight.
Historical Background
The modern Ministry of National Defense traces its origins to the Ottoman Ministry of War (Harbiye Nezareti), which was responsible for the Imperial Army’s affairs in the late Ottoman period. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish War of Independence saw the establishment of the Erkan-ı Harbiye-i Umumiye Riyaseti (General Staff Headquarters) and the Ministry of National Defense in 1920 by the Ankara Government, preceding the formal declaration of the Republic in 1923.
Throughout the Republican era, the Ministry played a vital role in consolidating a professional, nonpartisan armed force in a geopolitically volatile region. The institution has historically operated alongside the Turkish General Staff (Genelkurmay Başkanlığı), with the latter commanding the operational leadership of the Turkish Armed Forces, while the Ministry focused on civilian oversight, policy formulation, and administrative support.
Historically, the appointment of the Minister of National Defense in Türkiye was formally the prerogative of the Prime Minister. In practice, however, the selection was heavily influenced, if not outright determined, by the General Staff, which favored appointing former generals aligned with the military’s institutional outlook. Through the powerful National Security Council (MGK), the General Staff exerted significant control over defense policy, including the unilateral preparation and submission of the defense budget, often relegating the civilian minister to an administrative role.
Following the military’s strategic defeat in the Coalition War and amid the reformist push led by President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Ayşe Çiller, the civilian government has gradually reclaimed limited authority over defense affairs. One notable milestone has been the assertion of the Prime Minister’s prerogative to appoint a civilian minister of their choosing. In this context, Minister Turhan Tayan’s appointment marked a political turning point. Since assuming office, he has overseen substantial defense budget reductions as part of a broader effort to redirect national resources toward economic revitalization and institutional modernization.
Responsibilities and Structure
As of 2007, the Ministry’s main functions include:- Planning and implementing national defense strategy.
- Organizing and administrating the Turkish Land Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force.
- Managing defense procurement and arms production in coordination with affiliated institutions such as ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, and the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK).
- Overseeing defense budget allocations and military expenditures.
- Supervising military education institutions including war academies and specialized training centers.
- Coordinating conscription and reserve forces policies, in tandem with the Gendarmerie General Command and the Coast Guard Command, which are affiliated with the Ministry in peacetime.
The Ministry operates through several main directorates, including:
- General Directorate of Defense and Security Affairs
- General Directorate of Procurement and Logistics
- General Directorate of Legal Services
- Department of International Defense Cooperation
- Department of Military Personnel Affairs
Although the Chief of the General Staff retains operational command of the Armed Forces, the Ministry exerts control over civilian policy oversight, budgeting, legal matters, and institutional modernization.
The Ministry operates in close coordination with the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (Savunma Sanayii Müsteşarlığı, SSM), the body tasked with defense procurement, R&D, and industry support. Key projects prior to 2007 included:
- Indigenous development of the ALTAY Main Battle Tank (in prototype stage)
- Acquisition of F-16 Block 50 aircraft under Peace Onyx program
- Domestic UAV production programs, including ANKA
- Naval modernization, including MILGEM-class corvettes and Type-209 submarine upgrades
Institutions and Subordinate Bodies
- Military Academies and Training Institutions
- Turkish Armed Forces General Staff (operational independence)
- Defense Industry Support Fund (SSDF)
- Military Health System and Hospitals
- Logistics Command
- Military Judicial System (until reforms in the late 2000s)
As of March 6, 2007, the Minister of National Defense is Turhan Tayan of the İYİ Party, a veteran parliamentarian and former Minister of Education and Defense in the late 1990s.
Born in 1943, Bursa, Türkiye Tayan recieved his LL.B. from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. He served as a Member of Parliament (1991–2002) before becoming Minister of National Education (1995–1996) and then again Minister of National Defense (1996–1997) under the Mesut Yılmaz coalition. Returned to national politics in 2006 with then banned İYİ Party, advocating for an independent military, a non-political general staff, and a prioritization of national defense and not domestic politics.
Minister Tayan is noted for his legalist approach to civil-military relations, support for civilian control of the armed forces, reforming the military for modern conflict, and emphasis on indigenizing Türkiye’s defense production. His tenure since 2007 marks a return to traditional security realism amid domestic and regional uncertainty.
Turhan Tayan |
