President Erdoğan's Industrial Claim Sparks Controversy
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ignited a wave of criticism following a recent statement suggesting that Turkey 'could not even produce a sewing needle' 20 to 25 years ago. The remark, made on October 29, 2025, during the inauguration of Turkish automaker BMC's new tank and next-generation armored vehicle production facility in Ankara, drew immediate backlash from opposition politicians and on social media.
The President's Statement and Defense Industry Context
During the ceremony, President Erdoğan contrasted Turkey's past industrial capabilities with its current advancements in the defense sector. He stated, 'Let me take you back 20 to 25 years. Could we produce a sewing needle in our country back then? I'm not even talking about weapons. But now, thank God, Turkey is producing its own weapons. We couldn't produce even 20 percent of our defense needs then, but now we've reached 80 percent,' drawing a comparison between Turkey's industrial capacity before and after his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002.
Critics Highlight Decades of Industrial Heritage
The President's comments were swiftly challenged by critics who argued that they overlooked Turkey's long-standing industrial development. Many pointed out that Turkey has been manufacturing sewing needles since the 1950s. The İstanbul-based Atlı Needle and Machinery Company, founded in 1951, produced the country's first domestically made sewing needles, marking an early milestone in Turkish industrial history.
Opposition figures further emphasized the nation's industrial legacy:
- Yankı Bağcıoğlu, Deputy Chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and a former rear admiral, noted that Turkey had been building naval vessels, including submarines and patrol boats, domestically at Gölcük and Taşkızak shipyards from the late 1930s onward.
- Müsavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the İYİ (Good) Party, stated that Turkey's first sewing needle factory was established 74 years ago, 'when the Republic was just 28 years old and the ruling AKP didn't even exist.' He also highlighted that various factories—including aircraft, sugar, textile, iron and steel, shipyards, paper, cement, tobacco, power plants, dams, weapons, and chlorine plants—were established within the first 15 years of the Turkish Republic.
- Columnist Çiğdem Toker of the T24 news website pointed out that major industrial plants such as Kardemir, Erdemir, and İsdemir (key steel producers) were already decades old by 2000, when Erdoğan claimed Turkey couldn't produce a sewing needle.
Broader Political Context and Historical Interpretation
Critics accused President Erdoğan of disregarding the country's industrial heritage and the achievements of the early republican era. The timing of the remarks, made a day before Turkey marked the 102nd anniversary of the republic, further fueled the debate. Some interpreted Erdoğan's statements as part of a broader tendency to frame Turkey's history as if it began with the founding of the AKP in 2001, thereby 'overlooking the legacy of the republic.'
5 Comments
anubis
The focus on current technological advancements is positive for national pride. Yet, downplaying the historical fact that Turkey was producing goods like sewing needles decades ago creates unnecessary division.
paracelsus
While Turkey's defense industry has indeed made impressive strides recently, dismissing earlier industrial achievements seems unfair. Both eras contributed to our national development.
anubis
It's about the big picture, not just one needle. We're a global player now.
eliphas
Look at the defense industry now! Unthinkable 20 years ago.
anubis
President Erdoğan highlights a valid point about modern industrial capabilities, but the "sewing needle" comment oversimplifies a rich industrial past. Acknowledging both the past and present would offer a more complete picture.