Bangladesh–Türkiye Defence Industry Cooperation: Strategic Prospects and Constraints

Reading Time: 4 minutes Bangladesh and Türkiye are quietly cultivating a defence partnership that could, over time, evolve into a substantive bilateral relationship with strategic, industrial, and geopolitical significance. The convergence of Bangladesh’s modernisation ambitions under its Forces Goal 2030 and Türkiye’s emergence as a cost-effective, technologically maturing defence exporter presents a clear opportunity for both sides to advance shared interests through cooperation in key areas of military capability and industry development. Bangladesh has already made initial acquisitions from Turkish defence firms, notably the Bayraktar TB2 UAV and TRG-300 guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) from ROKETSAN, alongside various electro-optical systems from ASELSAN and artillery systems from MKE. These purchases reflect not only capability enhancement but a willingness to diversify away from traditional suppliers such as China and Russia. This growing openness provides Ankara with a clear opening to deepen its role in Dhaka’s procurement pipeline and influence the trajectory