AGP Executive Report

COP33 Bid Watch: China is reportedly weighing a run to host the 2028 UN climate summit, with COP31 set for Turkey this November and COP32 in Ethiopia—leaving the host decision for the Asia-Pacific group still unclear. Archaeology in Anatolia: Turkish teams report ancient turtle figurines from İn Cave, dated up to ~16,500 years ago, pointing to ritual life at the end of the last Ice Age. Maritime Defense Tech: At TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, STM says its domestically built NETA autonomous underwater vehicle has entered mass production, with mine-hunting systems next. AI & Travel Friction: A case involving an Agoda booking where an Istanbul hotel appeared closed highlights how automation can fail travelers when human support is needed. Seismic Monitoring: New reporting flags intense microearthquake activity near Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, keeping local risk attention on. Energy Security Angle: The IEA compares Strait of Hormuz disruption to a “broken vase,” stressing long-term damage to global energy markets.

Defense Tech at TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland: FNSS unveiled the U-MAV (İ-ZAHA), an 8-ton unmanned amphibious assault vehicle built for autonomous breach, reconnaissance and counter-drone roles, while naval commandos staged mine, hostage and harbor-infiltration drills. Homegrown Munitions Push: ROKETSAN says integration of Atmaca, Akya and air-defense systems into domestic platforms is cutting foreign dependence, with Levent close-in air missile trials underway. AI Workforce Drive: Erdoğan announced a program to train 550 doctoral students in AI, cybersecurity, chips and advanced computing at 20 research universities, aiming for 3,000 researchers in five years. Startup Funding Watch: Angel-backed deals in Türkiye fell sharply, with active angel networks dropping to just two in 2026 data. Infrastructure & Industry: Türkiye ranked 2nd globally with 48 firms in ENR’s Top 250 contractors list; separately, United Solar in Oman ramps polysilicon production to diversify supply beyond China. Archaeology & Mapping: Possible dwellings were detected near Göbekli Tepe via geophysical surveys, and Türkiye mapped 172 military cemeteries and memorials abroad across 48 countries. Cybersecurity: A Turkish-origin student helped stop a rogue AI agent from pushing malicious code on GitHub, highlighting new risks in autonomous testing.

Defense Tech & Maritime: Aselsan’s TUFAN Kamikaze USV made its first launch at TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, with the expo showcasing 37 naval platforms and unmanned underwater systems at Gölcük. AI Talent Push: Erdoğan announced a centralized selection of 550 doctoral students for training at 20 research universities in strategic tech fields like AI, cybersecurity, chip technologies and advanced computing. Regional Tech Diplomacy: D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood met Turkish officials in Ankara to expand institutional capacity, statistics and joint research, including work with SESRIC and SAM. Cybersecurity Watch: Reports warn that hundreds of fake VPN apps are flooding the Chrome Web Store, highlighting risks from malicious extensions. Space & Science: Turkish observatories recorded 117 microearthquakes south of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands in 55 hours, while scientists also flagged a mysterious “mega-planet” baffling researchers. Sanctions & Finance: The US Treasury expanded sanctions tied to Hizballah cash-transfer networks using couriers across Lebanon, Türkiye, the UAE and Iran. Geopolitics: Israel warned Syria against Turkish military buildup as tensions with Ankara escalate.

TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland: Türkiye opened its four-day maritime defense and tech showcase at Gölcük Naval Shipyard, with a fleet display and demos of unmanned underwater/surface systems and underwater rocket tech—plus Anadolu’s “Tech Reporter” interactive journalism zone for kids. AI Skills Push: GITEX AI Türkiye is set for Sept. 9-10 in Istanbul, aiming to train 10,000 AI specialists, 100,000 AI application professionals and reach 5 million in AI literacy by 2028. Naval Tech Launch: Aselsan-backed TUFAN, a surface kamikaze maritime drone for autonomous and swarm missions, was launched into the water for the first time and will be showcased at TEKNOFEST. Defense Industry R&D: FNSS unveiled the U-MAV unmanned amphibious assault vehicle, designed to lead amphibious operations and swap mission modules in the field. Rail Export Milestone: Türkiye’s homegrown E5000 electric locomotive received EU interoperability certification, clearing the way for sales to the EU and beyond. Maritime Security Watch: Somali piracy is reportedly resurging in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden, with a Turkish vessel seized this week. Archaeology Collaboration: Turkic-world researchers are moving toward a unified digital heritage program and joint excavation projects.

Turkcell & 6G R&D: Türkiye’s Turkcell will join six new European research projects, targeting 6G, AI, emergency communications, and resilience of critical digital infrastructure, with work ranging from model development to real-world validation and standards input. AI Sovereignty: Türkiye officially launched a 2026–2030 AI action plan aimed at global tech leadership and moving institutions into the AI era. E-exports from Ankara: Trendyol data says Ankara sellers are shipping abroad at scale, with 67% of sellers actively exporting and textiles leading demand across Eastern Europe and the Gulf. Syria Security Tensions: Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase drew condemnation from Damascus and Ankara and unusually sharp U.S. criticism, spotlighting competing Turkish and Israeli security interests. Mecca Defense Pact Watch: The Saudi-Türkiye-Pakistan Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is triggering regional ripples, including new high-level coordination talks involving Egypt and Pakistan’s foreign ministry plans for Istanbul. Health Tech Milestone: Moderna and Merck reported a Phase 3 win for a personalized melanoma vaccine, but access outside the U.S. may take years due to bespoke manufacturing needs.

Defense & Maritime Tech: Türkiye’s TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland kicked off with a major Turkish Navy maritime and aerial display in the Gulf of Izmit, showcasing submarines, unmanned aircraft and domestically developed drones ahead of the four-day maritime tech event. Energy & Mining Cooperation: Türkiye and Syria signed a phosphate cooperation deal covering production, mining-site development and a planned railway to a port, aiming to deepen energy and mining ties. AI & Aviation Investment: TravelX, an AI-native post-booking revenue management firm, secured a new investment from Kaszek, marking Kaszek’s first move into aviation tech and pushing TravelX funding to $45m. Cybersecurity & Research Theft: The US charged 17 Iranians tied to the Mabna Institute over a state-linked cyber campaign targeting universities and companies, alleging theft of 31+ terabytes of academic data. Turkic Tech Talent: YTB launched its 2026 Türkiye Internships Program with 115 diaspora engineers set to work with defense industry firms in Türkiye. R&D in Europe: Turkcell joined six new European R&D projects spanning 6G, AI, and resilience for critical digital infrastructure. Science & Heritage: Archaeologists highlighted Göbekli Tepe’s broader context with new findings pointing to an ancient Neolithic settlement.

AI Policy Push: Türkiye unveiled its 2026-2030 AI Action Plan, aiming to make the country a regional AI leader with sector pilots (health, agriculture, energy, industry), robotics and “embodied AI,” and a push for at least $10B in mostly private investment plus a 2% public-budget AI allocation. Cybersecurity & Research Theft: The US charged 17 Iranian hackers tied to the IRGC-linked Mabna Institute over a large-scale campaign targeting universities and companies for research and intellectual property. Biofoundries Go Faster: A report highlights how AI is increasingly running the DBTL cycle in automated biolabs, accelerating drug and biotech discovery. Space/Science Spotlight: New research at Göbekli Tepe suggests the oldest temple may also have functioned as a Neolithic village with residential structures. Maritime Defense Tech: TEKNOFEST’s Blue Homeland exhibition opens at Gölcük, featuring tours and underwater offense/defense demonstrations with domestically built naval platforms. Medical Tourism Warning: The UK warns about fertility treatment risks in Turkish-occupied North Cyprus after claims of wrong sperm/egg donors. Trade & Connectivity: Türkiye’s trade with Turkic states hit $9.4B in the first half, led by Kazakhstan, as Ankara deepens transport, energy, industry and logistics ties.

AI Policy in Turkey: Türkiye has officially launched its 2026–2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, aiming to mobilize at least $10B, expand data-center capacity to 1 GW by 2030, train 10,000 advanced AI specialists, and roll out AI literacy for 5M citizens, with a “Recognize, Benefit, Produce and Govern” framework and a push for Turkish language models and stronger data protection. Defense Tech & Maritime Security: Saudi Arabia launched the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition (MMDC) in Riyadh to protect the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid Houthi attacks, while Turkey’s MARLIN unmanned surface vessel gained smart mine-laying capability with autonomous and remote-controlled operation. Geopolitics Meets Tech: The Saudi–Türkiye–Pakistan “Mecca” joint defense pact is reshaping regional security debates, with analysts weighing whether it reduces reliance on the US umbrella. Space & Communications: NASA and ESA astronauts are set for an ISS spacewalk to replace a failed space-to-ground communications antenna. Cyber/Dev Tools: Cloudflare will highlight AI security and agentic infrastructure at LEAP 2026, and Cursor’s Origin launch raises new questions about code hosting terms. Health & Research: A case report links non-prescription medicinal mushroom supplements to sudden psychosis relapse, underscoring risks from “natural” products. Climate Risk: A Turkish climate scientist warns El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole could drive record-hot months and extend wildfire season.

AI in Courts: Turkey’s justice ministry rolled out a “native and national” AI tool inside UYAP to predict which criminal or terrorist organisation a suspect may be linked to, aiming to reduce mismatched records. Defense Tech: Türkiye’s Marlin unmanned surface vehicle added smart mine-laying capability after integrating homegrown Malaman sea mines. Space & Heritage: Archaeologists unearthed a 2,400-year-old tomb in ancient Aspendos with silver coins showing wrestlers, hinting the burial may belong to an athlete. Open Source Milestone: Debian turned 33, tracing how Ian Murdock’s 1993 vision became a backbone of modern Linux ecosystems. AI Infrastructure: OpenAI plans a major Ohio data center lease backed by Nvidia financing, with plans to expand local power generation to support large-scale AI compute. Regional Security: Turkey’s Libya outreach via Hakan Fidan’s Benghazi visit is framed as reshaping Eastern Mediterranean maritime and energy calculations. Tech Policy & Safety: US senators opened a probe into Roblox over child safety concerns, requesting documents on partnerships and moderation practices.

Defense Tech & Autonomy: Türkiye’s Marlin USV has added smart mine-laying capability after integrating domestically developed Malaman sea mines, with autonomous and remote-controlled mission planning validated by Sefine Shipyard and partners. Regional Security Politics: US President Trump praised the Saudi-Türkiye-Pakistan “Mecca” joint defense agreement as a “big, bold, important first step,” while analysts warn it may not function like a NATO-style alliance and could reshape alignments around Cyprus. Cybersecurity: A suspected China-nexus actor is linked to exploitation of a newly patched VMware vCenter flaw (CVE-2026-59310), with reports of backdoors and Babuk-derived ransomware used as a distraction. AI & Startup Ecosystem: GITEX Ai Türkiye is set to debut as a Eurasia “digital corridor” connecting global capital with Turkish AI startups, with investors urged to focus on industrial AI, defense tech, fintech, and enterprise software. Health Tech: Türkiye says it now treats 3 million+ foreign patients annually and is pushing domestic vaccines, medical devices, and AI-assisted risk-based inspections. Energy/Climate Infrastructure: Antalya is paving agricultural land for COP31 parking, drawing criticism from agricultural engineers over soil protection trade-offs. Space & Sovereignty: Turkey has started building a spaceport near Warsheikh in Somalia, raising questions about land lease terms, revenue sharing, and long-term autonomy. Heritage & Science Tourism: Archaeologists continue debate over a Lake İznik site tied to the First Council of Nicaea, while Homer’s “Odyssey” cave debate heats up around İzmir.

Earthquake Preparedness: Turkey’s DASK says 42% of homes still don’t have compulsory earthquake insurance, even 27 years after the 1999 Marmara disaster—coverage is lowest in the Black Sea region (45%). Defense Tech & Industry: TUSAŞ shared new imagery of the ANKA III stealth drone carrying two jet-powered SÜPER ŞİMŞEK wingmen, pointing to manned-unmanned teaming and distributed strike concepts. AI Data Infrastructure: Havelsan introduced ORION, a domestic big-data management platform meant to unify fragmented organizational data and prepare it for AI use. Space Science Spotlight: MIT astronomer Rohan Naidu is behind a JWST study describing a possible “black hole star,” an early-universe object far brighter than a normal star. Archaeology & Digital Heritage: Turkic-world researchers agreed to build a unified digital database and an international ARICA program, including an electronic atlas of archaeological sites. Autonomous Mobility: Karsan’s e-ATAK Level 4 autonomous electric minibus started passenger service on a fixed 3.7-mile route at a Netherlands theme park. Market Signals: Smartphone shipments across the Middle East (excluding Turkey) fell 19% year on year in Q2 2026, with entry-level devices hit hardest. Renewables Cooperation: Türkiye and Saudi Arabia plan to expand renewable energy collaboration to 5,000 MW under COP31-linked agreements.

Renewables Deal: Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are set to expand their renewable energy cooperation by adding a 3,000 MW agreement at COP31 in Antalya, lifting planned capacity in Türkiye to 5,000 MW. AI & Data Infrastructure: Havelsan unveiled ORION, a domestic AI-ready big-data management platform meant to unify fragmented organizational data and prepare it for analytics and AI use. Autonomous Transport: Karsan’s SAE Level 4 e-ATAK autonomous electric minibus has started carrying passengers on a fixed 3.7-mile route around the Efteling theme park in the Netherlands. Defense Tech Showcase: TUSAŞ released new flight imagery of the ANKA III stealth drone carrying two jet-powered SÜPER ŞİMŞEK wingmen, pointing to manned-unmanned teaming and distributed mission concepts. Health Localization: Turkey’s Health Ministry says it will push local production of vaccines, medicines and strategic medical devices, including contracts for at least six domestic vaccines and a list of 45 priority devices. Archaeology & Digital Heritage: Turkic-world researchers agreed to build a unified digital database and coordinate joint studies through ARICA, covering key Silk Road and early Turkic sites. Energy Innovation Watch: A new hydrogen-from-rock approach, stimulated geologic hydrogen, is gaining attention after lab and field tests showed boosted hydrogen output.

Mecca Pact: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca, framing any attack on one as an attack on all—an Article 51-style collective deterrence move that could reshape West Asia’s security map and invite debate over what “purely defensive” means in practice. Regional Security: Turkish President Erdoğan said Egypt could join the pact, adding Cairo as a potential future partner and increasing pressure on regional alignments. Ukraine–Russia Tech & Strikes: Kyiv reported missile attacks on a Russian airfield and a rocket centre tied to a Starlink-style satellite network, while Moscow also demanded answers over claims of a possible U.S. weapons arsenal supply route involving Türkiye. Cybersecurity & AI: LMNTRIX was named a Major Player in IDC’s 2026 MDR/MXDR services assessment, highlighting Turkey’s growing role in managed security services. Aviation Tech: Ryanair signed a five-year Google Cloud partnership to deploy Gemini Enterprise and Workspace for internal operations, adding a second hyperscaler alongside AWS. Health Note: Experts say coffee can be safe in moderate amounts (about 3–4 cups daily), but benefits depend on preparation and added sugar. Archaeology in Türkiye: A 2,400-year-old tomb in Aspendos may belong to an ancient wrestler, with coins and grave goods pointing to athletic ties.

Türkiye Defence Industry: A week of coverage highlights how Türkiye built its defence ecosystem over 25 years, from MILGEM shipbuilding to layered air-defence concepts and precision-strike missile programs, showing a clear push toward homegrown sensors, command systems and integration. Regional Security Pacts: The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan keeps dominating headlines, with analysts framing it as a new collective-security architecture that could reshape deterrence dynamics across West Asia and South Asia. Space & Research in Turkey: Turkish science news includes a German-Turkish team’s first survey of Mount Ararat’s shrinking glacier to study climate history, plus a new international nomad-civilizations conference planned for Issyk-Kul with participation from Turkey. Archaeology & Heritage: Excavations and protection work continue to surface new finds, including a newly announced 2,500-year-old marble statue from Sardis and preservation efforts at the ancient Syrna site in Muğla. Cybersecurity: Researchers warn of fake Chrome VPN extensions that hijack traffic by routing users through attacker-controlled proxies, impersonating major brands. Health & Science Policy: A clinical study on hard-to-treat resistant gram-negative infections in ICUs underscores the growing antimicrobial resistance challenge. Transport & Tech Adoption: Ryanair’s five-year Google Cloud AI partnership signals deeper enterprise AI use in operations, not just customer-facing tools.

Defense Tech & Missiles: Ukraine says it recovered an Nvidia Jetson Orin module from a Russian S-71M cruise missile, suggesting Moscow is using commercial AI chips for terminal guidance—another sign sanctions are being bypassed. Air Defense Supply Crunch: EU governments are rushing Patriot interceptors to Ukraine as Western stocks run low, with scrutiny on Poland’s earlier PAC-3 transfers and pressure on Spain and Greece. NATO AI Drones: NATO plans a large “eastern flank” network linking thousands of drones, sensors and satellites with AI to speed detection and response along Russia/Belarus borders. Türkiye Tech & Industry: Hyundai has started production of the IONIQ 3 at its İzmit plant after a €250M EV upgrade, aiming to ramp output and push Türkiye’s EV ambitions. Space Ambition: Türkiye is targeting a lunar spacecraft launch in early 2027, with a hybrid engine reportedly tested for the mission. Cyber/Consumer Tech: Chrome users are warned about fake VPN and proxy extensions, while Cloudflare reports a surge in very large DDoS attacks. Regional Security: The Türkiye–Saudi Arabia–Pakistan “Makkah” defense pact is driving debate over political and military mechanisms, joint exercises and possible tech sharing. Health & Society: A multi-country study links “acting one’s age” attitudes with day-to-day memory problems in seniors.

EU Air Defense Push: EU governments are scrambling to send Patriot interceptors to Ukraine as stocks run low ahead of a possible winter offensive, with Poland, Germany and others already transferring systems and more requests aimed at Spain and Greece. Türkiye Defense Industry Milestone: A week of coverage marks Türkiye’s 25-year defense leap under AK Party rule, highlighting growth from a small, foreign-dependent sector to thousands of firms, major export volumes, and near top-10 global exporter ambitions. EV Manufacturing in Türkiye: Hyundai has started mass production of the fully electric IONIQ 3 at its İzmit plant, the first foreign automaker to produce a battery passenger EV in Türkiye, alongside a new battery assembly push. AI & Tech Market Spotlight: Türkiye’s $58B tech market and fast AI investment plans are being promoted on the world stage, with GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 set for Istanbul in September. Startup Funding: kayIQ.ai, a Turkish AI “bug hunter” for automated software testing, secured $500k seed funding for international expansion. Energy Storage Deal: Noon Energy and Sabancı Renewables plan up to 1GW of co-located long-duration storage and renewables for data centers, with early deployments targeted for 2027. Space Inspiration: Inspiration4 astronaut Chris Sembroski met young space fans in İzmir to boost science and engineering interest. Accessible Tech in Libraries: Istanbul’s Rami Library expands accessible services for visually impaired readers with audio, Braille and assistive tech.