In October TUSAŞ in Kahramankazan, Ankara believed to be related to the terrorist attack on the facilities PKK terrorist Velat Çetinkaya, by the Italian authorities Rome He was caught nearby. This development once again highlighted the cooperation between Turkish and Italian authorities in the fight against terrorism and the increased controls on terrorist connections in Europe.
The Capture of Terrorist Velat Çetinkaya
Çetinkaya, 50, lives in a building 30 kilometers from Rome. In the Campino areawas caught by Italian police in an apartment often rented for short periods by tourists.
- Hiding Place:
Çetinkaya's whereabouts were revealed following strict checks on hotels and guesthouses following the TAI attack on October 23. - Arrest and Interrogation:
The arrested terrorist, To Regina Coeli Prison transferred. Currently Interpol In cooperation with Çetinkaya, his connections in Rome, his activities and the possible aid he received are being investigated.
Arrest Warrant in Germany
Çetinkaya, not only in Turkey but also in Germany for terrorism-related crimes A court in Stuttgart issued an arrest warrant for Çetinkaya in 2022. This reveals that Çetinkaya is involved in terrorist activities across Europe and poses an active threat in many countries.
Attack on TAI and the Terrorist's Connection
In October Attack on TAI facilities In the investigation that followed, Çetinkaya was identified as one of the key suspects. However, Çetinkaya's role in the attack has not yet been determined. After the attack Interpol and Italian security forces began a close collaboration. Police sources emphasize that Çetinkaya's capture was an important result of this collaboration.
TAI's Strategic Importance and NATO Visit
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), is one of the strategically important institutions in Turkey's defense industry. After the attack, NATO Secretary General Mark Ruttevisited TAI as part of his first visit to Ankara after taking office.
- Details of the Visit:
- Rutte met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, and later inspected TAI facilities.
- President of Defense Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, provided information to the NATO delegation about Turkey's advanced engineering level in the defense industry and domestic production platforms.
- Introduced Local and National Platforms:
- National Combat Aircraft KAAN
- Jet Training Aircraft HÜRJET
- New Generation Basic Training Aircraft HÜRKUŞ
- UAVs: AKSUNGUR, ANKA, ANKA III and ŞİMŞEK
- Helicopters: GÖKBEY, ATAK, T70
Defense Industry and International Cooperation
TAI carries out many projects that increase Turkey's defense capacity and acts in cooperation with NATO countries. President of Defense Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, gave the following messages during this visit:
“We had a productive meeting where we emphasized the importance of Turkey's strong presence in NATO and the necessity of sustainable cooperation with NATO countries in the field of defense industry.”
Görgün stated that the Turkish defense industry will continue to strengthen international cooperation and drew attention to the importance of domestic and national platforms in this process.
Velat Çetinkaya was caught in Rome, has once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Europe. This development demonstrates the need to tighten controls on PKK connections in Europe. Incidents such as the attack on TAI reveal the international dimension of threats to critical institutions in Turkey’s defense industry.
TAI's rise in the defense industry with NATO cooperation, supports Turkey's goal of becoming a strong actor in regional and global defense policies. In line with this goal, the importance of the fight against terrorism and strategic cooperation is increasing.
