Mission

To produce analyses that prioritize regional stability by addressing security not only in military terms, but also through political, societal, and technological dimensions.

Strategic Rationale

Security challenges in the Islamic geography are often treated in a one-dimensional manner. Sustainable security, however, depends as much on cooperation and crisis prevention mechanisms as on defense capacity.

Security & Defense

Program Positioning

Assessing security dynamics through deterrence, resilience, and strategic capability.

This program focuses on the evolving nature of security and defense in an era marked by hybrid threats, regional instability, and technological transformation. It examines Türkiye’s security environment alongside regional and global defense trends, emphasizing deterrence, defense capacity, and strategic resilience rather than purely military confrontation.

Core Focus Areas

1. Regional Security Environments

Threat perceptions across interconnected regions

Scope:

  • Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus, Balkans, and Africa
  • Cross-border threats and regional instability
  • Security spillovers and escalation risks

Key Questions:

  • How do regional conflicts interact and spread?
  • What are the main security challenges facing Türkiye’s neighborhood?
  • How can regional security architectures be strengthened?

Outputs:

  • Regional security assessments
  • Conflict risk analyses
  • Stability outlook reports

2. Defense Policy & Military Transformation

Adapting armed forces to new realities

Scope:

  • Defense doctrines and force posture
  • Military modernization and reform
  • Joint and combined operations

Key Questions:

  • How are modern militaries transforming?
  • What lessons emerge from recent conflicts?
  • How does Türkiye adapt its defense policy to emerging threats?

Outputs:

  • Defense policy reviews
  • Military capability assessments
  • Strategic reform briefs

3. Defense Industry & Strategic Technologies

From procurement to strategic autonomy

Scope:

  • Defense industrial base
  • Indigenous production and innovation
  • Emerging defense technologies

Key Questions:

  • Why is defense industry central to strategic autonomy?
  • How does technology shape battlefield outcomes?
  • What distinguishes Türkiye’s defense industrial trajectory?

Outputs:

  • Industry analyses
  • Technology and innovation reports
  • Strategic capability studies

4. Hybrid Warfare & Non-Traditional Threats

Security beyond conventional battlefields

Scope:

  • Cyber threats and information warfare
  • Terrorism and irregular actors
  • Economic and energy security

Key Questions:

  • How do hybrid threats blur war and peace?
  • What vulnerabilities do states face in the digital age?
  • How can societies build resilience against non-military threats?

Outputs:

  • Hybrid threat assessments
  • Cyber and information security analyses
  • Resilience-focused policy papers

5. Alliances, Partnerships & Security Cooperation

Balancing commitments and autonomy

Scope:

  • NATO and regional security frameworks
  • Bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation
  • Defense diplomacy

Key Questions:

  • How do alliances shape security choices?
  • How can Türkiye balance alliance obligations with national interests?
  • What new forms of security cooperation are emerging?

Outputs:

  • Alliance and partnership analyses
  • Defense diplomacy briefs
  • Cooperation strategy reports

6. Crisis Management, Deterrence & Strategic Stability

Preventing escalation and managing conflict

Scope:

  • Crisis response mechanisms
  • Deterrence theory and practice
  • Strategic stability in contested regions

Key Questions:

  • What ensures effective deterrence today?
  • How can crises be managed without escalation?
  • What role does communication play in strategic stability?

Outputs:

  • Deterrence assessments
  • Crisis management case studies
  • Strategic stability reports

Program Intersections

This program intersects with:

  • Power, Geopolitics & Civilizational Order — strategic context
  • Strategic Regions & Civilizational Basins — regional application
  • Technology & Innovation — future capabilities

Strategic Note

The Security & Defense program translates Turk Alliance’s geopolitical and civilizational analyses into concrete assessments of hard power, resilience, and deterrence. It offers policy-relevant insights for understanding how security is produced, maintained, and challenged across regions.