Turkey plans to allocate approximately $27.34 billion to defense and security in 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 30%. The budget was passed by parliament in late December and took effect on Jan. 1. Under the plan, the Ministry of National Defence (MoND) will receive $19.08 billion, up 31.6% from its 2025 allocation.
Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute shows consumer inflation reached an annual rate of 30.38% in 2025. Within the MoND budget, 53.9% is designated for personnel expenses and social security contributions, while 44.1% is set aside for procurement activities, with the balance covering other capital outlays.
The overall defense and security envelope also funds additional institutions, including the Ministry of the Interior, the Gendarmerie General Command, and affiliated security agencies. Nearly 97% of the total budget is categorized as military spending.
The Ministry of Finance estimates that the $27.34 billion allocation equals roughly 2.33% of gross domestic product, in line with NATO guidelines. Defense expenditure is expected to climb further, reaching 2.83% of GDP in 2027 and 3.2% in 2028.
By comparison, earlier projections in the 2025 budget anticipated MoND spending of $17.30 billion in 2026 and total defense and security outlays of $24.59 billion. The steeper increase reflects not only inflationary pressures but also Ankara’s long-term strategy to maintain robust defense investment, consistent with NATO-wide trends and key programs such as the KAAN domestically developed fighter jet and the Steel Dome air-defense system.
