Bypassing the EU blockade US Partners with Türkiye for 155mm Munitions to Ukraine.

The United States has announced a partnership with Türkiye for the supply of 155mm munitions to Ukraine. Faced with an increasing shortage in their military stocks, exacerbated by their substantial assistance to Ukraine, the United States has turned to Türkiye for the purchase of munitions, specifically 155mm caliber artillery shells. This decision reflects a preference for Turkish productions, recognized for their compliance with NATO standards, a key criterion to ensure interoperability within the alliance, especially since some European countries had shown their disagreement with the purchase of Turkish munitions.
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MKE manufactures several types of 155mm rounds under a cooperation agreement with the Turkish state company Roketsan and the defense branch Sage of the Turkish government research agency Tubitak (Picture source: MKE)

This transaction has proven all the more significant as it comes in a context where certain European Union countries, notably Greece, Cyprus, and France, have expressed reluctance to finance the acquisition of Turkish munitions intended for Ukraine. These countries blocked a financing proposal with European funds, despite the majority support of EU member states. This opposition has highlighted a divergence in approaches between the European Union and the United States in military support for Ukraine.

The United States has thus acquired 116,000 artillery shells from a Turkish company, with prospects for additional purchases. Beyond the shells, the United States also sources trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroguanidine, used respectively in the manufacture of munitions and as a propellant for shells, from Türkiye.

The Turkish state-owned corporation Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) holds a near monopoly on the production of 155mm shells, and the quantities it produces are kept confidential. MKE manufactures several types of 155mm rounds under a cooperation agreement with the Turkish state company Roketsan and the defense branch Sage of the Turkish government research agency Tubitak. The Turkish armed forces also heavily use the 155mm rounds in their T-155 Firtina howitzers in their cross-border operations in Syria and Iraq.

Furthermore, the collaboration between the two countries extends beyond commercial exchanges. The United States plans to establish three munitions production lines in Texas, aiming to meet the needs of both its military and those of Ukraine. This initiative underscores the American commitment to supporting Ukraine while enhancing its munitions production capability. The production lines from the Turkish defense company Repkon are expected to produce about 30% of all 155mm artillery shells manufactured in the United States by 2025.

The relationship between the United States and Türkiye, sometimes strained in the past, appears to be rapidly improving. Türkiye recently approved Sweden's NATO membership, and the United States has progressed in the process of Türkiye acquiring Block-70 F-16 jets and upgrade kits, following Ankara's request in October 2021 after being removed from the F-35 jet program.

The scheduled meeting on May 9 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his American counterpart Joe Biden at the White House highlights the importance of this bilateral relationship, both militarily and diplomatically, in the current context of geopolitical tensions and support for Ukraine.

This collaboration between the United States and Türkiye emphasizes the latter's importance as a key player in the production and export of munitions, capable of meeting NATO quality and compatibility requirements while offering a viable alternative to the limitations encountered by European countries in military support for Ukraine.

Defense News April 2024