How Defense Cooperation Between Turkiye and Brazil Increases

Turkish defense companies signed several defense cooperation agreements with their Brazilian counterparts during the 15th edition of the LAAD 2025 defense exhibition, recently hosted by Brazil. 

The cooperation programs included missile and aviation engines, as well as opportunities for joint defense development and production.

Brazilian circles welcomed the agreements as an additional opportunity to advance bilateral relations between the two countries, which include political and economic cooperation. 

In addition to recent cooperation in the field of security and defense, which has become a strategic priority to help each side overcome various security threats.

The defense industry cooperation between Turkiye and Brazil expresses a shared desire to advance and consolidate political and strategic relations between the two countries, especially in light of current geopolitical challenges and within the framework of Ankara's efforts to join BRICS.

Defense Cooperation

In recent years, Brazil and Turkiye have shown a remarkable interest in participating in defense exhibitions organized by their respective countries.

Turkiye participated in the latest edition of the LAAD exhibition in April 2025, hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is one of the largest defense and security events in Latin America.

Brazilian defense companies also participated in the International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (SAHA EXPO), held in Istanbul in October 2024.

In addition, Brazil has confirmed its participation in the 17th edition of the International Defense Exhibition (IDEF), scheduled to be held in Turkiye next July.

Reciprocal participation in leading defense, security, aerospace, and technology exhibitions has contributed to advancing defense cooperation programs between Turkiye and Brazil, as well as promoting each country's defense industries to the other.

Recently, there has been a remarkable growth in cooperation between defense companies in the two countries. The most recent was the signing of an agreement on April 4 by the Turkish Kale Group and the Brazilian company Integrated High-Tech Systems, allowing the former to export KTJ-3200 turbojet missile engines, marking Turkiye's first-ever jet engine export.

The KTJ-3200 is Turkiye’s first indigenous turbojet missile engine, developed by Kale Jet Engines as part of the Turbojet Engines Development Project, initiated by the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB).

In addition, on April 3, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) signed a cooperation agreement with its Brazilian counterpart Embraer to develop research, development, and joint production activities for civilian and military platforms.

TUSAS CEO Mehmet Demiroglu called the agreement a milestone for Turkiye’s aerospace industry, while Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said it aligns with Embraer’s global expansion goals.

Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Mucio recently told Reuters that Embraer is negotiating to sell KC-390 military transport aircraft to Turkiye, Poland, and Finland.

It is also worth noting that the Turkish company Sarsilmaz, which owns a wide range of small arms, machine guns, and pistols, has recently succeeded in strengthening its presence in Latin American markets, as well as establishing direct relationships with users there, particularly in Brazil.

This development in defense cooperation is likely neither new nor the first of its kind.

In September 2024, Turkiye and Brazil signed a series of defense industry cooperation agreements aimed at helping ensure appropriate conditions for joint military research, development, and production. Furthermore, the two countries have recently exchanged scientific and practical expertise in the field of defense technologies.

In March 2024, Brazil announced its desire to strengthen its defense arsenal with Turkish Kaplan MT medium tanks, also known as Harimau.

Last month, Brazil also began negotiations to purchase Turkish TULPAR infantry fighting vehicles, after negotiations between Brazil's Armaments and Materiel Authority and European defense companies collapsed.

According to estimates, Turkiye represents one of Brazil's options for developing its air capabilities, particularly in the field of drones, in which Turkiye is a leader.

Potential Implications

The developments in the defense sector between Turkiye and Brazil are likely to have a series of positive repercussions.

The recent defense agreements signed between Turkish and Brazilian defense companies indicate the two countries' commitment to enhancing mutual benefits in the field of complementary defense technologies. 

On the sidelines of the LAAD exhibition, the Turkish Minister of Industry indicated that there is a shared desire to advance joint defense cooperation opportunities between Türkiye and Brazil, especially as the two countries have made significant progress in developing and upgrading their local defense industries.

Defense cooperation between Brazil and Turkiye is likely to contribute to strengthening the presence of Turkish defense products in Latin America in the coming period, especially since the LAAD exhibition witnessed significant interest in Turkish defense industries from a wide range of South American countries, particularly those with strained relations with Washington, which reached unprecedented levels with the arrival of Trump to power.

From Ankara's perspective, exporting Turkish defense products to Brazil will enhance the expansion of exports to all Latin American countries, especially after the return to the presidency of Lula da Silva, who has good relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Advanced Turkish-Brazilian cooperation is likely to include security cooperation to address current security challenges, most notably the maritime piracy activities that both countries are experiencing.

Brazil and Turkiye co-lead the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to combat piracy, which aims to improve maritime cooperation between different countries and deter illegal activities at sea.

Turkiye believes that defense cooperation with Brazil could contribute to strengthening its position within the BRICS group, thus enhancing Ankara's chances of joining BRICS, of which Brazil is a key member. This is especially true given that Turkiye applied to join the group in September 2024.

From Ankara's perspective, BRICS membership represents an important step both for strengthening the presence of the Turkish defense industry, which is currently working to transfer its technological innovations and promote its defense products throughout South America, as well as for other BRICS member states.

New Opportunities

ASELSAN, a leading Turkish defense company, seeks to expand its role in Latin America by modernizing defense systems, offering advanced precision guidance systems, innovative public security solutions, and cost-effective modernization programs.

The Turkish company has already demonstrated its expertise by upgrading Leopard 2A4 tanks for the Chilean Land Forces, contributing to border security for several countries in the region.

With the opening of its new office in Santiago, Chile, ASELSAN continues to pursue new opportunities in the region, introducing innovative modernization programs to extend the lifespan and capabilities of land, air, and naval platforms.

In this context, Ahmet Akyol, Chairman and CEO of ASELSAN, stated: “As ASELSAN, we place utmost importance on the Brazilian and Latin American markets as part of our global expansion strategy.”

In 2003, then Turkiye Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul paid an official visit to Brazil and met Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Viegas Filho. 

The sides signed an agreement on cooperation on defense-related matters on August 14, 2003. But the agreement came into force only in 2007.

In 2012, former Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yildiz arrived in Brazil to meet Brazilian then Defense Minister Celso Amorim. The discussion between the two was about the production of military equipment. 

During the visit, a letter of intention was signed between the two, which was about the exchange of experiences in the field of the military.

On the other hand, the recent growing defense cooperation between Brazil and Turkiye may represent an additional opportunity for both sides to develop and enhance economic and commercial cooperation, potentially doubling the volume of trade between the two countries, which has reached approximately $5 billion by the end of 2024.

It is worth noting that Brazil is Turkiye's largest trading partner in the South American region.

Over the past five years, trade volume between Turkiye and Brazil has grown at an annualized rate of 16.7%. 

Between February 2024 and February 2025, Turkiye exported $111 million and imported $379 million from Brazil.

The top exports of Turkiye to Brazil were Gas Turbines, Other Nuts, and Motor Vehicles, while the main imports of Turkiye from Brazil were Raw Cotton, Coffee, and Soybeans.