SSB appoints new attachés to embassies in Saudi Arabia, Poland, Nigeria and the Philippines to advance military cooperation and defence industry ties.
Turkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) has expanded its global presence through new international defence attaché appointments. Published in the Official Gazette on 21 March 2024 (Issue No. 32848), the updated regulation outlines the creation of four new attaché positions under Presidential Decree No. 181.
These new posts, officially titled “Defence Industry Attachés,” will be based at Turkiye’s embassies in Manila (Philippines), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Warsaw (Poland), and Abuja (Nigeria). According to Decision No. 9637, published in the same Gazette, appointments to both existing and newly created positions have been formalised. The latest move brings the total number of appointed attachés closer to the SSB’s stated goal of having 15 attachés by the end of 2024, as outlined in its 2024–2028 International Cooperation and Export Strategy.
Each new attaché post is strategically aligned with broader regional responsibilities. For instance, the attaché based in Riyadh will also cover the United Arab Emirates, while the Warsaw posting includes oversight of the Baltic States, Hungary, and Ukraine. The Abuja attaché will also be responsible for relations with Niger. In addition to these newly created posts, attachés have also been appointed to Doha (Qatar) and Jakarta (Indonesia), filling previously established positions.
SSB already had defence attachés in key countries, including the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Pakistan, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, and Bangladesh. With the recent appointments, the Secretariat is making steady progress toward a more globally integrated defence export and cooperation architecture.
The majority of the new appointments are tied to Turkiye’s broader defence diplomacy strategy, which aims to deepen industrial cooperation, facilitate exports, and support local procurement efforts in key allied and partner nations.
The appointments take effect as of the publication date in the Official Gazette and reflect Turkiye’s intent to institutionalise its presence in priority regions further. The attachés are expected to be pivotal in advancing bilateral defence industry relations, identifying strategic opportunities, and coordinating technology transfer and joint production initiatives.
