FAKE MEDIA – Geopolitical relations in the Middle East are back in the spotlight after Israeli media, Maarivsaid Türkiye was now seen as an even bigger threat than Iran. This view emerged in an analysis that discussed changes in the map of military power in the region.
In the report, Türkiye is described as a “second Iran” for Israel due to its increasing military capabilities and strategic influence in recent years.
Türkiye is considered more worrying than Iran
According to analysis Maariv quoted Middle East Eyethe Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now facing new challenges that are considered more complex.
The reason is that Türkiye is considered to have very rapid military development, especially in terms of the independence of the defense industry and the modernization of defense equipment.
The report states that Türkiye has achieved around 80 percent independence in the defense sector. This means that most of the country’s military needs can be produced domestically without relying heavily on imports.
Türkiye’s Military Strength is in the Spotlight
Türkiye is currently also listed as the country with the second largest military power in NATO. This increase makes Ankara increasingly taken into account in regional and global security dynamics.
Apart from that, the development of Türkiye’s defense industry is considered very aggressive, starting from the production of combat vehicles, air defense systems, to submarines.
Maariv also highlighted that the most significant potential threat to Israel could come from the Turkish Navy, especially due to the development of an increasingly modern submarine fleet.
Türkiye and Israel’s Heating Relations
Tensions between Türkiye and Israel are nothing new. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the conflict in Gaza heated up again in October 2023.
Türkiye has taken several tough steps, including freezing trade relations and tightening diplomatic communications as a form of protest against Israel’s military actions in Palestine.
The situation got hotter after Israel’s attack on Gaza which caused many civilian casualties. Türkiye even declared a three-day period of national mourning as a form of solidarity with Palestine.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also openly voiced strong criticism of Israel and emphasized that Türkiye must become a strong country to help the Palestinian people’s struggle.
Türkiye’s Military Power Over Israel
Data from Global Fire Power shows Türkiye is ranked 9th out of 145 countries in the list of world military powers. Meanwhile, Israel is in 15th position.
In terms of personnel numbers, Türkiye has more than one million active and reserve military personnel, including:
- 401,500 army personnel
- 100,000 naval personnel
- 52,580 air force personnel
- 380,000 reserve personnel
- 150,000 paramilitary personnel
In the air sector, Türkiye has more than 1,100 aircraft, including 201 fighter jets and hundreds of other support aircraft such as transport, training and combat helicopters.
Meanwhile, its ground forces are reinforced with more than 2,000 tanks, thousands of artillery pieces and tens of thousands of military vehicles.
At sea, Türkiye has dozens of warships, including submarines, frigates, corvettes and patrol ships that are constantly being updated to increase combat power.
Increasingly Complex Competition for Influence
Report Maariv stressed that the rapid development of the Turkish military is not just a matter of numbers, but also a matter of production capability and independence of defense technology.
This condition makes Türkiye increasingly considered a regional power that cannot be ignored on the geopolitical map of the Middle East.
With relations still hot and military power continuing to grow, the dynamics between Türkiye and Israel are expected to remain one of the most sensitive issues in the region in the near future.
