Collaboration Leveraging on Military Industry Development in Defense Diplomation Perspective (Case Study: Development of Turkish-Indonesian Medium Tanks)

Abstract

The development of the military industry has a country's economic calculation and military strategy. If two or more countries cooperate in the development of the military industry, then these activities have direct and indirect implications in Defense Diplomacy. For NATO members like Turkey, they are bound by the Single Europe Act: consolidation and contraction of the defense industry. Likewise, the geographical region of Indonesia has "ASEAN Ways" as an ethical foundation in maintaining the same relations with ASEAN countries. However, Turkey, in collaboration with Indonesia can develop and produce a prototype Medium Tank that is in great demand from other countries so that it not only impacts on the economic benefits and military strategy itself but influences the strategies and attitudes of other countries. The study aims to explain the multi-effects of developing Medium Tank cooperation between Turkey and Indonesia. Through the case study approach method, it can be understood that collaboration between the development of military industry between countries can increase Defense Diplomacy as a national defense leveraging, namely, Confidence Building Measure (CBM) that affects the environment of direct and indirect strategies. Thus Defense Diplomacy not only builds relationships with opposing or future opponents but is also able to become a leveraging that makes state-of-the-art technology a game-changer.

Keywords: Medium Tank, Leverage Strategy, Defense Industry

DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/79-04

Publication date: January 31^st 2020