Legal, business, and conflict law dimensions of defense industry: International cooperation and strategic partnerships in China, Russia, and the Turkic world

n a period when global power balances are changing, the importance of the defense industry should not be ignored. In particular, the geopolitical position and economic global position of states such as China, Russia and the Turkic World countries encourage them to strengthen and gain a place in the defense industry. The fact that the USA is China's biggest rival in economic and geopolitical terms drives China to make more breakthroughs in the defense industry and increase its power. China, which has a large production capacity in the defense industry, encourages domestic production in line with its goal of self-sufficiency. Russia is positioned as one of the leading countries in the defense industry thanks to its traditional military industry infrastructure and global network in arms exports. While companies such as Rostec, Almaz-Antey and Sukhoi constitute the main pillars of Russia's defense industry exports, Russia's cooperation with China and Türkiye is particularly notable in terms of technology transfer and joint production projects. In the Turkic World, Türkiye has become a rapidly developing actor in the defense industry and increasing its competitive power in the global arena. Türkiye, which pursues a growth strategy based on domestic production and exports through companies such as ASELSAN, TUSAŞ and BAYKAR, is strengthening its defense industry cooperation especially with countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. This study will examine the defense industry policies, international cooperation and strategic partnerships of China, Russia and the Turkic World from legal, economic and geopolitical perspectives. The research will seek answers to questions such as the effects of international law on the defense industry, the role of defense cooperation in global balances of power and defense industry models from a business perspective. Within the scope of the study, critical factors such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), CAATSA sanctions, NATO and Shanghai Cooperation Organization dynamics will be analyzed. As a result of the study, predictions will be presented on how the partnerships of China, Russia and the Turkic World in this field may take shape in the future.