This chapter examines the transformation of Turkey–US defense relations in light of Turkey’s emergence as a leading drone power and the broader global shift toward autonomous military technologies. Highlighting key developments in early 2025, it explores how Turkey has reoriented its defense strategy around three pillars: indigenous production, procurement diversification, and selective engagement. The analysis traces how historical episodes, including US arms embargoes and strategic constraints within NATO, fostered a national drive for defense self-sufficiency. It argues that Turkey’s growing technological capabilities and assertive defense posture have altered the dynamics of its relationship with Washington, moving it away from Cold War-era dependency toward a more autonomous and transactional framework. Ultimately, the chapter suggests that future cooperation will depend on whether the US and Turkey can build a new model based on mutual recognition, co-development, and strategic flexibility within an evolving global security environment.