USA (bbabo.net), - The United States is in talks to increase purchases of explosives from Turkey in order to increase the production of artillery shells for Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. It is noted that the West is struggling to deliver desperately needed ammunition to Kyiv.

Turkish supplies of trinitrotoluene (TNT), which is used as a primary explosive, will be critical for the production of NATO-standard 155mm ammunition. This will potentially increase ammunition production. Turkey is already on track to become the largest seller of artillery shells in the United States this year, Bloomberg emphasizes.

Russia's two-year military offensive in Ukraine has sparked a surge in global demand for ammunition, with Western allies insisting on supplies to Kyiv even as they replenish their own depleted stocks. The surge in demand has strained defense supply chains, especially components like TNT, the officials told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.

The deal with Ankara also exposes the delicate balance between NATO allies, with whom relations have been strained by events in Ukraine and Turkey's months-long blockade of Sweden's entry into the military alliance.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to visit the White House on May 9 for the first time since President Joe Biden took office as they mend military ties. Turkey's approval of Sweden's NATO membership this year cleared the way for Washington to sign an agreement to sell Ankara US-made F-16 combat aircraft, missiles and bombs worth $23 billion, Bloomberg notes.

The Pentagon in late February said it had awarded a contract to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to build three lines to produce metal parts for 155mm projectiles in Texas, including with Turkish subcontractors. The Mesquite, Texas plant is scheduled to begin production in June, the company said.

Turkish defense firm Repkon's production lines are expected to produce about 30% of all US-made 155mm artillery shells by 2025, sources said. In addition, the Defense Ministry has purchased 116,000 rounds of ammunition from Turkey's Arca Defense for delivery this year and further purchases are expected soon for delivery next year, the sources added.

In a statement promoting military investments in Texas with help from Turkey, the Pentagon said working with allies "is key to building a global defense industrial base."

According to Western officials, large defense companies and smaller suppliers are beginning to increase ammunition production, in part to supposedly counterbalance Russia's “successes” in this area. Ammunition production in the United States and Europe is expected to increase significantly next year and the year after that, Bloomberg reported.

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