Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani held talks in Ankara on Tuesday focused on defense industry cooperation and the potential purchase of Turkish-made drones, signaling Tokyo’s growing interest in expanding the use of unmanned systems in its military.
The visit marks the first official trip to Turkey by a Japanese defense minister. Both countries, allies of the United States, are aiming to strengthen defense ties and boost collaboration in technology and equipment. Officials said discussions included enhancing contacts between Turkey’s Armed Forces and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces at the unit level.
Nakatani is scheduled to visit Istanbul on Wednesday to tour defense facilities, including Turkish Aerospace Industries and drone-maker Baykar. While cooperation on drones is on the agenda, officials indicated that it is still too early for a formal agreement.
Turkey has emerged as a significant exporter of drones, with its systems already in use by several countries, while Japan is preparing to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles more broadly across its ground, air, and naval forces. Ankara expressed a strong interest in expanding defense and military cooperation with Tokyo as part of these talks.
Nakatani’s trip is part of a regional tour that also includes visits to Djibouti and Jordan.