Politics
Türkiye suggests new deal for Black Sea security after attacks
Türkiye is worried that increasing attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, including on ships owned by Turkish firms, may destabilize maritime security. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposes a new, limited agreement between Russia and Ukraine to stop the attacks.
In the latest instance of attacks on ships in the Black Sea, a Turkish-owned boat was struck by Russian forces in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday. The cargo vessel was damaged by a suspected missile attack at Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, the ship’s operator has said. No one was injured in the attack that set the vessel on fire. Since November, at least three ships have been struck in the Black Sea, near Turkish waters, in attacks attributed to Ukrainian forces hunting down an alleged “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that Russia utilized to evade Western-imposed sanctions.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TVNET on Saturday night, Fidan said Türkiye has long warned against the conflict’s spillover and that it is now spreading further. “Such things happen toward the end of conflicts. Everyone is raising the stakes, and they attack all fronts,” Fidan said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Sunday for a “dignified” peace and guarantees that Russia would not attack Ukraine again as he prepared to meet U.S. envoys and European allies in Berlin to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to sign a peace deal that initially backed Moscow’s demands, Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out the war through deadly bombings of cities and Ukraine’s power and water supplies.
Fidan noted that both sides were launching strikes on energy infrastructure, and that retaliation, unfortunately, disrupted commerce via the Black Sea. He said ships flying foreign flags but owned by Turkish companies, and Turkish crew members working on vessels operating across the Black Sea, faced risks. “Thankfully, no Turkish nationals were harmed in attacks so far,” he said. The minister said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of a meeting in Turkmenistan earlier this week. “This is a source of concern for us. We are seeking agreements in two fields. If sides will not pursue a comprehensive cease-fire and peace agreement, they should have a limited agreement on not attacking energy infrastructure and ensuring maritime security in Black Sea,” Fidan stated. He recalled the grain deal between the two countries “which practically ensured this.” “For a long time, all ships navigating the Black Sea were spared from attacks and Black Sea commerce continued without problems. We need the same suspension (of attacks) now,” he said.
Türkiye was a key player in the now-on-hold deal that enabled the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments through the Black Sea despite the blockade of its ports after the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in 2022.
The accord, brokered by Ankara and the United Nations in July 2022, ended after Moscow refused to renew it. Ankara has ramped up efforts to try to revive the initiative.
Türkiye has positioned itself as an intermediary in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Erdoğan was a key player in brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Moscow withdrew from the accord later, accusing the West of hampering its own grain and fertilizer exports, and has since attacked Ukrainian agricultural and port infrastructure. It has been said that it was ready to return to the deal once an accompanying agreement on Russia was in place.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said peace is not far away in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to quotes published on Saturday as he returned from Turkmenistan. Erdoğan said he hopes to discuss the Ukraine peace plan with U.S. President Donald Trump. He also warned the warring sides against attacks in the Black Sea, saying the region should not be used as an “area of confrontation.” “This would not benefit Russia or Ukraine. Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea.”
Erdoğan said Saturday that he mainly discussed the war and peace efforts with Putin.
“Like all other actors, Mr. Putin knows very well where Türkiye stands on this issue,” he said.
Türkiye, which has sought to maintain relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war, controls the Bosporus, a key passage for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil toward the Mediterranean.
Fidan said Putin and Erdoğan were close friends and that Erdoğan has consistently maintained the same stance since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Erdoğan advocated a fair and just peace that will benefit both sides. “There are ongoing processes we are also involved in (regarding the Russia-Ukraine peace). Mr. President wanted to hear from Putin and Putin personally informed him. It is good to see that Mr. Putin is genuinely keen on a cease-fire. There are certain conditions, though,” Fidan said.
The minister noted creative solutions were needed to the Russia-Ukraine war and both sides had “their own reality” and “the room they can maneuver based on this reality.” He noted that he had a phone call with U.S. special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict Steve Witkoff before Saturday’s live interview to discuss the conflict and the situation in Gaza. He said Ukraine’s Donbas region was a key component of any peace deal, and that both sides held different views on the region’s status. “Apparently, any deal will be concluded with elections and a referendum in Ukraine. Particularly, some issues can only be resolved through a referendum since (any compromise) can be a risk not any political leader considers taking on their own,” Fidan elaborated. He said another issue regarding the conflict was the fate of frozen Russian assets. “This is another area of conflict after Donbas,” he said.
Amid EU plans to use frozen Russian state assets to fund a loan to Ukraine, several member states, including Belgium, have raised legal concerns, noting that most assets are held at Euroclear in Brussels.
Russia’s central bank called the plan illegal and reserved the right to take any measures necessary to protect its interests.
On Friday, the bloc moved to “indefinitely immobilize” Russian assets, while EU leaders are set to decide at a Brussels summit on Dec. 18-19 whether to allocate funds to Ukraine.
YPG-Israel ties
Fidan also commented on another pressing issue for Türkiye: the Existence of the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK. The minister said that the U.S.-backed terrorist group was certainly “emboldened by Israel.”
The YPG, which controls several locations in northeastern Syria, claims self-styled autonomy there and so far has rejected integration into post-Assad Syria’s army, despite signing a deal with Damascus on March 10.
The group was behind several terror attacks in Türkiye during the Syrian civil war, and Türkiye hopes it will complete its integration into the Syrian army and end posing a risk. Israel, which raised its hostility toward Ankara as Türkiye became the most fierce opponent of the Netanyahu administration’s genocide in Gaza, does not hide its embrace of the YPG. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar once described “Kurds in Syria” as their “natural ally,” referring to the ethnic community the YPG claims to represent.
Fidan said the YPG never cooperated with the Syrian opposition against the oppressive regime of Syria’s Assad, and Israel also opposed the ouster of Assad.
He noted that views abroad of the YPG had changed, and U.S. policy had shifted. “Now, the YPG should fulfill its deal with Damascus and undertake its responsibilities in the March 10 deal,” he said. He stated that this was crucial not only for the stability of Syria but also for the national security of Türkiye, Iraq and Jordan. The minister highlighted that Ankara encouraged dialogue, peace and confidence between Damascus and the YPG.
For years, the U.S. actively supported the YPG under the pretext that it was a key actor in a joint fight against Daesh. Fidan said Daesh had considerably shrunk and was no longer a systemic threat. “Regional actors can overcome this issue by joining forces,” he said. “Daesh is certainly a threat that should be fought against, but it is a problematic point of view to resort to different projects under the name of fighting Daesh. We are aware that reaction to Daesh is disproportionate, we believe this is about something else,” he said. Fidan noted that Daesh became an apparatus employed by any power, underlining that Western countries and the Assad regime exploited the Daesh issue “to gain room for maneuver.” “It is two different matters to see Daesh as a threat to the future of Syria and to see it as a terrorist group that should be eliminated. I believe the new administration in Syria will not allow (Daesh to thrive),” he said.
Fidan stressed that the YPG cannot have Daesh as an excuse to prolong its existence. “This is not simply about Syria’s security. This is also about Türkiye’s security. The YPG is the PKK’s wing in Syria. The PKK is currently engaged in this process. We want to see its results beyond our borders as well,” he said. Last year, Türkiye launched the terror-free Türkiye initiative by inviting the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to urge his group to lay down arms. Öcalan cooperated and made the call to the PKK last February. The PKK accepted and announced it had started disarmament last summer. So far, the YPG declined to join the initiative, claiming Öcalan’s call did not cover them.
CAATSA issue with U.S.
The foreign minister also answered questions about Turkish-US relations. He said efforts are underway to lift sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), noting that the issue was framed at a leadership level during a meeting between President Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Responding to a question on the status of the process, Fidan said the political will established at that meeting continues to guide work on CAATSA and the Halkbank case, which he described as the two remaining problematic areas in bilateral relations. “In all other areas, we are doing very well. Our goal is to expand global relations and increase trade, and work in these areas is ongoing,” he said. Turkish state lender Halkbank faces a lawsuit in the United States, allegedly for helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
Fidan said he expects a breakthrough on CAATSA in the near future, stressing that the issue is particularly important for the defense industry.
He noted that Türkiye has reached an 80% self-sufficiency rate in defense production but emphasized that no country can be fully independent in this field and that cooperation remains essential. Because of CAATSA, he said, Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) has been unable to develop institutional counterparts. “This is something we need to resolve. Our primary professional and expert actor in this area is the Presidency of Defense Industries,” Fidan said.
He added that once sanctions are lifted, the Presidency of Defense Industries will be able to fully assume its role, calling this one of the most significant gains of moving beyond CAATSA.
Fidan also pointed to NATO’s principle of mutual interdependence, noting that longstanding supply systems for certain equipment, weapons, and ammunition used by the Turkish Armed Forces have been disrupted by CAATSA and must be restored.
“Until we reach a period in which we can take our domestic capabilities to the highest level, we need to remove sanction regimes in certain areas not only from the United States but also from Europe,” Fidan said. He recalled that sanctions imposed by Canada, Germany and several European countries have been mainly lifted through diplomatic efforts.
Fidan said CAATSA sanctions can be lifted in 2026.
Turkish security forces detained 52 irregular migrants in separate operations across four provinces, while four suspected migrant smugglers were arrested, authorities said Monday.
Security forces detained 10 foreign nationals in the northwestern province of Edirne after determining they had entered Türkiye through illegal routes. Another seven irregular migrants were detained in neighboring Kırklareli.
The migrants were transferred to provincial migration authorities and a repatriation center following processing.
In the western province of Izmir, gendarmerie teams stopped a minibus near the Karaburun toll booths on the Çeşme highway on Oct. 1 as part of an operation targeting migrant smuggling.
Authorities found 16 irregular migrants inside the vehicle, including one Nigerian, three Chadian, 10 Ethiopian and two Sudanese nationals.
The minibus driver, identified by the initials B.Y., was detained on suspicion of organizing the journey and was later arrested by a court. The migrants were transferred to migration authorities.
Türkiye, a key transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, has stepped up border controls and security operations in recent years as part of its efforts to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
Separately, security forces detained 19 Afghan irregular migrants during a joint coast guard and gendarmerie operation in Demre, in the southern province of Antalya, on Oct. 2.
One suspected Turkish smuggler was detained on land, while two others allegedly linked to the operation were caught aboard a sailboat at sea. All three were later arrested and sent to prison.
Authorities seized the sailboat used in the alleged smuggling operation.
Investigators identified four additional suspects believed to have been involved in the smuggling network, and efforts to apprehend them are continuing, authorities said.
Türkiye has intensified nationwide operations in recent years amid rising regional migration pressures.
New investigations have revealed deep-seated corruption in district municipalities run by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has seen dozens of its mayors jailed in a widespread probe into bribery and tender-rigging over the past two years.
Reports by the Sabah newspaper indicate that a deputy mayor asked a businessman to place a bribe into a vase full of flowers and deliver it to his wife in Mersin’s Mezitli district. In another case, it was discovered that some staff at Istanbul’s Ataşehir Municipality asked for high-value gift cards for shopping at luxury department stores.
In a corruption operation targeting municipalities in Mersin, the bribery network and methods allegedly used at Mezitli Municipality have been exposed. The district’s mayor, Ahmet Serkan Tuncer, was among dozens detained earlier this week in an anti-corruption operation, along with Mersin Mayor Vahap Seçer.
According to the Sabah report, Mezitli’s Deputy Mayor Atilla Küsbeci was meeting with landowners on behalf of Mayor Tuncer. During these meetings, zoning densities were increased and changes were made in favor of those who paid the requested bribes.
The money was allegedly shared among Ahmet Serkan Tuncer, Atilla Küsbeci, CHP Mersin Deputy Provincial Chair Kubilay Özsoy, Serkan Şahin and Hacı Şahin. The case file states that Kubilay Özsoy obtained TL 28 million (around $570,000) in illicit gains through these transactions, converted the bribes into gold and foreign currency and introduced them into the financial system, and purchased land in the name of his father. It also states that Ahmet Serkan Tuncer purchased a home at a residential complex with the money.
It was determined that Atilla Küsbeci and his wife, Merve Küsbeci, who works in the municipality’s zoning department, turned a blind eye to the construction of noncompliant sections at two luxury hotels in the city and failed to act on complaints concerning these violations.
The testimony of Serkan Canıtezer, a representative of Kayalife construction company, shed light on the alleged bribery method. Canıtezer said Mayor Tuncer and Deputy Mayor Atilla Küsbeci demanded a TL 5 million bribe for zoning and construction permit procedures.
“Atilla Küsbeci asked me to put it in a vase together with flowers and leave it at the zoning department where his wife, Merve Küsbeci, worked. However, I refused. I obtained the construction permit, but they demanded two separate renovation projects for the construction in order to receive the bribe. The head of the building inspection department, whom Atilla Küsbeci sent to my construction site, told me that a third renovation project would be required and said, ‘You know the reason. There is nothing I can do; the order comes from higher up,'” he testified.
“I also reported the situation to CIMER (the Presidential Communications Center, a hotline for complaints from the general public). On Aug. 19, 2026, I went to the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department of the police with TL 100,000 and had the serial numbers recorded. I then informed them that I was ready to hand over the money,” Canıtezer said.
A search of the home of Ali Özbaran, owner of Özbaran Enerji, who was detained in the operation in Mezitli on charges of “rigging a tender,” “bribery” and “qualified fraud,” uncovered 257,000 euros, $25,000, 64,000 pounds, 4 kilograms (8.82 pounds) of gold bars, 116 Republic gold coins, eight half gold coins, five quarter gold coins and 2 grams (0.07055 ounces) of gold, as well as an unlicensed handgun and tender documents.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Ataşehir Municipality by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was expanded based on examinations of digital materials belonging to suspects arrested on April 20, 2026, statements obtained from suspects under the effective repentance provisions, testimony from witnesses questioned following complaints filed through CIMER and statements by suspects who allegedly paid bribes.
The examination found that some municipal employees had used high-value gift cards from luxury department stores and received money in foreign currencies in exchange for bribes.
The investigation also found, based on examinations of digital materials, that financial benefits were provided to company owners involved in zoning and occupancy permit procedures at Ataşehir Municipality by allegedly having them purchase purportedly “garbage containers.”
Based on the evidence obtained, simultaneous searches, seizures and detention procedures were carried out this week. A total of 13 suspects, including Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş, were apprehended and detained as part of the operation. Numerous digital materials were seized during searches of the suspects’ addresses.
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that investigations aimed at combating crimes against the reliability and functioning of public administration would continue meticulously and with determination.
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed ringleader of the PKK terrorist group, may meet journalists and civil society representatives, a lawmaker who has repeatedly met him in recent months told the media over the weekend.
In statements quoted by the Turkish media on Sunday, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker Pervin Buldan noted that they may see “a concrete development in October” in terms of visitors for Öcalan, who is jailed in a high-security island prison in the Marmara Sea. She was responding to a question about whether Öcalan would be allowed visitors other than his next of kin, lawyers and DEM Party lawmakers, from a party closely associated with the PKK.
The move is part of the terror-free Türkiye initiative launched by government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli in 2024. The initiative sought the dissolution of the PKK after decades of violence across Türkiye and has succeeded to an extent after Öcalan agreed to Bahçeli’s proposal to order the PKK to lay down its arms. The PKK announced its dissolution in 2025, and the process is currently being monitored by Turkish authorities. In return, Türkiye introduced a law in August that offers deferral of sentencing and prosecution for PKK members not involved in acts of violence.
Since Bahçeli’s historic call two years ago, Öcalan has frequently received DEM Party lawmakers who have served as messengers for him, conveying his messages to the PKK and the Turkish public. Öcalan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after his capture in Kenya in 1999, however, still serves his prison term in strictly isolated conditions with a few fellow inmates. Recently, Bahçeli announced that a new addendum to the prison facility may be built on the island to help Öcalan fulfill his task as an intermediary. Bahçeli has also suggested a formal “coordinator role” for Öcalan. This was also mentioned by Buldan in her interview, and she said that Öcalan would be a “coordinator” both in the disarmament of the PKK and in the “political and democratic building process.”
“For this reason, it is essential that he should be provided with free working and communication conditions and allowed to receive visitors from different segments of society,” Buldan stated.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat to Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new legislative year at the Turkish Parliament last Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed a law passed by Parliament on terror-free Türkiye.
“Consensus on a terror-free Türkiye has upset the country’s foes. (Terror-free Türkiye) is already having a deterrent effect on Türkiye’s foes and is empowering the country,” Erdoğan said.
The president also urged other political parties to strengthen the “homefront” amid regional tensions and reach a “grand Türkiye consensus.”
Senior Turkish political figures criticized the opposition New Party (YP) after its lawmakers walked out of Parliament as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prepared to address lawmakers at the opening of the new legislative year.
New Party leader Özgür Özel and lawmakers from his party left the General Assembly shortly before Erdoğan began his address Thursday, in what the party described as a protest against the president.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli criticized the move, saying it was politically inappropriate for the lawmakers to leave while Erdoğan was in the chamber.
“It was not politically right for New Party (YP) to leave while our president was in the hall,” Bahçeli told reporters at a reception marking the opening of the new legislative year.
Bahçeli, whose MHP is allied with Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said a recently established political party should seek to bring new approaches to politics.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also criticized the walkout, saying political differences and protests were legitimate parts of democratic politics but arguing that lawmakers should observe political courtesy during the annual opening ceremony.
“We would have preferred New Party lawmakers to listen to the president’s speech and not resort to such a course of action,” Kurtulmuş told reporters.
He said lawmakers had extensive opportunities to criticize the president and the executive once regular parliamentary proceedings resumed but described the opening of Parliament as an occasion for political parties to gather under the same roof despite their differences.
The walkout came during the special session opening the fifth legislative year of Parliament’s 28th term. Erdoğan delivered his annual address after Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş opened the session.
The incident prompted criticism from senior members of the AK Party and officials in the presidential administration.
AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik described the decision to leave the chamber before Erdoğan’s speech as disrespectful to Parliament and the presidency.
Çelik noted the president’s address at the beginning of a legislative year was an established part of Türkiye’s parliamentary tradition and accused the YP of contradicting its calls for a stronger Parliament by leaving the chamber.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also criticized the walkout, saying Parliament was a forum where differing political views should be expressed and debated.
Duran described YP lawmakers’ decision to leave the chamber as “a serious act of disrespect,” saying it went beyond a political stance against the presidency and showed disregard for the national will, state traditions and parliamentary conventions.
He said the move was inappropriate for Parliament and argued that democratic politics required not only expressing one’s own views but also tolerating opposing opinions and listening to the elected president in Parliament.
“Putting political disagreements ahead of long-established state traditions and the common rules of Parliament is incompatible with democratic representation.”
AK Party Deputy Chair Hüseyin Yayman also condemned the protest, accusing YP lawmakers of using the parliamentary session for political theater. He said lawmakers had the right to criticize or oppose Erdoğan but should do so through parliamentary debate.
The dispute underscored tensions between Erdoğan’s governing alliance and the YP, which was established in July under Özel’s leadership after he and 90 other lawmakers resigned from the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The YP has since formed a parliamentary group, with Özel serving as its chair.
Kurtulmuş, responding to questions about opposition criticism more broadly, rejected claims that opposition voices were being prevented from speaking in Parliament.
He said seven parliamentary groups would participate when regular proceedings resume, five of them representing opposition parties.
The Parliament speaker also called on opposition parties to put forward proposals in the debate over a new constitution, saying disagreements over Türkiye’s presidential system and the president’s political party affiliation could be addressed as part of that process.
Despite the walkout, other opposition politicians remained in the chamber during the opening session. Erdoğan later greeted lawmakers from several parties following his address.
Parliament is scheduled to resume its regular legislative work on Oct. 6.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed that anyone found responsible for a deadly mine collapse in the western province of Manisa will be held accountable, as an investigation continues following the deaths of five miners.
Speaking Saturday at Teknofest Southeast in Şanlıurfa, Erdoğan said authorities were pursuing both administrative and criminal investigations into Thursday’s collapse in the Soma district, where five miners were killed and two others were rescued with injuries.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has launched an administrative investigation, while the Soma Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a judicial inquiry. Nine people, including officials from the company operating the mine, have been taken into custody.
“The investigation is continuing in multiple directions. Anyone found to have been negligent or guilty will certainly be held accountable. We will also follow the process closely,” Erdoğan said.
He offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the five miners who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the two injured workers, who remain under medical treatment.
Erdoğan made the remarks during the opening of Teknofest Southeast at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, where thousands of visitors gathered to attend the country’s flagship aviation, aerospace and technology festival.
The president praised young participants for their technological achievements, saying their projects demonstrated the progress Türkiye has made in science and innovation.
“Once again, we are proudly witnessing the level Türkiye has reached in technology and the high-quality projects produced by the Teknofest generation,” he said, congratulating young people who displayed their inventions and turned their ideas into reality at the festival.
The atmosphere at the airport, along with the determination, enthusiasm and ambition of the participants, showed that Türkiye’s future was in capable hands, Erdoğan said.
He added that the country’s long-term development vision, known as the “Century of Türkiye,” would carry the imprint of a generation increasingly involved in technological innovation.
“These young people are a source of pride for our nation and among the country’s most valuable assets,” he said, praising their knowledge, confidence and ambition.
Erdoğan also thanked the Industry and Technology Ministry, the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and other organizations involved in organizing the festival, describing Teknofest as the world’s largest aviation, aerospace and technology event.
He said he had personally recommended Şanlıurfa as the host city, arguing that its historical and cultural heritage made it an appropriate setting for an event bringing together technological innovation and young talent.
“Once again, we are experiencing the excitement of Teknofest, an event shaped from beginning to end by young people, and this time we are doing so in Şanlıurfa,” he said.
Erdoğan highlighted the city’s ancient history, describing it as a center of religious heritage, science and civilization. Şanlıurfa is home to Göbeklitepe, an archaeological site widely recognized for its significance in understanding early human history.
He also recalled the contributions of scholars associated with the region, including Al-Battani, Sinan ibn Thabit, Ibn Wasif of Harran and Yunus al-Harrani, who made contributions to fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine and philosophy.
The president said hosting Teknofest in Şanlıurfa was intended to connect the country’s historical legacy with the ambitions of its younger generation and the technologies of the future.
He added that organizers wanted young Turks to draw inspiration from their cultural roots while introducing international participants to the country’s history and heritage.
Teknofest began in 2018 with applications from 4,333 teams, Erdoğan said, noting that participation had increased significantly over the years.
This year’s Southeast edition attracted more than 730,000 teams and over 1.6 million competitors from all 81 Turkish provinces and 97 countries, according to the president.
Visitor numbers had also approached 1 million, he added, highlighting the growing public interest in the festival.
Türkiye’s Underwater Defense Command (SAS) is training its personnel to respond to threats ranging from drifting sea mines and unexploded ordnance to improvised explosive devices and unmanned maritime systems, as the naval unit maintains operations aimed at securing the country’s waters.
The unit, part of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, carries out explosive ordnance disposal, underwater operations and other specialized missions at sea and on land. Its personnel have also taken part in counterterrorism operations when assigned, according to SAS commander Navy Capt. Dr. D. Ilhan Sayıcı.
“These missions require many years of training and experience,” Sayıcı said. “Procedures must be followed completely during a mission because there is no margin for error. For us, the first mistake is the last.”
Established in 1964, the command has participated in operations ranging from the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation to more recent counterterrorism missions, Sayıcı noted.
One of its main areas of expertise is neutralizing explosive threats, including naval mines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and suspicious underwater objects.
SAS teams have also been tasked with responding to drifting mines and other potential threats in the Black Sea, where mines have posed risks to maritime traffic.
He said the unit’s objective is to protect maritime transportation, respond rapidly to potential threats and safeguard Türkiye’s maritime interests.
Becoming a SAS commando requires about a year of intensive training, with officers and noncommissioned officers joining on a voluntary basis.
Candidates are evaluated not only on physical fitness but also on psychological resilience, technical knowledge, leadership and their ability to make decisions under intense pressure, Sayıcı said.
The unit regularly conducts shooting, diving, demolition, helicopter and field exercises to maintain operational readiness.
A SAS officer identified as Lt. B. described one of the unit’s procedures, known as the Tactical Claw Operation, which is designed to neutralize drifting naval mines and unmanned aerial or maritime vehicles.
Under the procedure, SAS personnel are transported to the area by helicopter before entering the water and placing explosives on the target. They then withdraw to a safe area by boat or helicopter before remotely detonating the device, the officer said.
SAS teams have intervened against more than 300 suspicious objects, including mines and unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles, according to the unit.
Its personnel have also served in counterterrorism operations inside Türkiye and across the border, including operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and the Claw series, Lt. B. said.
The unit has also carried out missions in Libya, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.
During a recent training exercise, SAS commandos practiced clearing a booby-trapped building, rescuing a hostage and neutralizing an improvised explosive device. Another explosive device detected in the field was targeted using sniper and rocket fire.
Another SAS officer, identified as Lt. S., said fewer than 30% of candidates have completed the approximately yearlong training course in previous years.
The officer said personnel undergo regular physical conditioning on land and at sea alongside specialized operational training.
“The physical and mental endurance required by our work can only be developed through continuous and disciplined training,” he emphasized, adding that exercises also focus on patience, composure, attention and decision-making.
Lt. B. said teamwork remains central to the unit’s approach, particularly during missions involving explosives.
“There is no room for fear, hesitation or mistakes in our understanding of duty,” he said. “We remind ourselves that we do not have the luxury of making a mistake.”
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