Turkey Increases Defense Spending in 2014 Budget

Turkey’s parliament has approved a 6.71 percent increase in the country’s defense budget, according to budget figures released after a debate.

The budget, drafted in October and debated in parliament since then, took effect Dec. 20 after a parliamentary vote in favor of it.

According to the 2014 budget figures, Turkey’s defense ministry got an annual budget worth $10.908 billion, up 7.15 percent from $10.18 billion in 2013.

Part of Turkey’s defense spending are budget appropriations for the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard, both of which operate under the interior ministry but are considered a de facto part of the Turkish military.

The Gendarmerie in 2014 will get $3.08 billion, up 5.35 percent from $2.922 billion in 2013. The 2014 budget appropriation for the Coast Guard is $226 million, compared to $216 million.

The three departments that make Turkey’s defense budget will get $14.212 billion in 2014, up 6.71 percent from $13.317 billion in 2013.

The 2014 defense budget accounts for 3.7 percent of the overall state budget.

About half of Turkey’s defense budget goes to personnel spending (salaries, benefits and pensions), with the rest mostly going to finance new equipment and maintenance.

Apart from that budget, the Turkish government runs an annual Defense Industry Support Fund to finance modernization programs. That fund, mostly financed by levies on gambling, tobacco and alcohol, is worth around $600 million annually. [via]