Five years after the first news, a project dubbed the “Pentagon of Turkey” has taken its first step toward reality. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday began construction of the massive complex for the Turkish army and the Ministry of National Defense. The date has special significance for the army, as it is the 99th anniversary of a battle that consolidated the country’s success against invading forces after World War I.
The complex, tentatively called the “Growing Star”, will house the ministry, now headed by former Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar, the office of the Chief of General Staff and the headquarters of all branches of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). in the capital Ankara.
It will have office buildings surrounding a large crescent-shaped area in the center and a star-shaped building that will serve as an entrance and exhibition hall at the tip of the crescent. The central outdoor area will host a space for ceremonies.
The complex will be located near the new headquarters of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) on a road connecting Ankara with the central province of Eskişehir.
“The change in defense needs required that all the different branches of the army and the ministry serve under one roof. We discussed it extensively and made the decision to have a joint center. We came to the conclusion that we needed this center, especially in a time of increased cybersecurity, “Erdogan said at the innovation ceremony. The president said,” We need to give a different signal to the world in terms of defense. ” construction of the complex will be completed on May 19, 2023.
“The buildings that will be built here will have high technology and will be aware of the environment. We will have a joint defense complex, “he said.
The complex will be built on an area of about 12.6 million square meters (135.63 square feet), with an enclosed space of 890,000 square meters, said Erdoğan, capable of serving about 15,000 people.