IZMIR, Turkey — The largest-ever edition of Turkey’s Efes military exercise was notable for the technology showed off, the maneuvers demonstrated, and above all, the participation of nine countries for the first time — including Syria.
The exercise, which took place between April 11 and May 22, mixed land, sea and air assets to run drills both during the day and night at the Doğanbey Training Area in Seferihisar in Izmir. Media were invited to attend for the closing week.
According to a Turkish military official, nine countries participated for the first time: Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Poland, Vietnam, Portugal and Syria. While Breaking Defense did not view the Syrian contingent, the official said that a unit of 20 personnel were taking part in the exercises, including an air assault operation and using weapons aboard a Turkish utility helicopter.
Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu, an expert at TRENDS Research & Advisory in Abu Dhabi, called the participation “a sign of deepening cooperation” between the two countries. After the Assad regime collapse late 2024, defense experts expected an increase in Turkey’s role to help Syria boost its defense sector, from rebuilding the national armed forces to supplying Damascus with armored vehicles, drones and air defense systems.
