Politics
NATO Patriot defense system deployed in eastern Türkiye, ministry says
Türkiye said Tuesday that a Patriot air defense system has been deployed to the eastern province of Malatya under NATO cooperation to strengthen the country’s airspace protection amid heightened regional tensions.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) remain fully committed to safeguarding the country and its citizens, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Necessary measures are being taken for the security of our borders and airspace, and consultations are ongoing with NATO and our allies,” the ministry said.
According to the statement, NATO has increased air and missile defense measures in addition to national steps taken by Türkiye.
“As part of these measures, a Patriot system assigned to support the protection of our airspace is being deployed in Malatya,” the ministry said.
Türkiye will continue to assess developments in coordination with NATO allies while maintaining its defense and security capacity at the highest level and working toward regional peace and stability, the ministry also noted.
Separately, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held a phone call Monday with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Affairs Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani.
During the call, the two officials exchanged views on bilateral and regional defense and security issues, the ministry said in a statement posted on social media.
The discussions come as Ankara intensifies consultations with regional partners amid ongoing security concerns in the wider Middle East.
On March 4, a ballistic projectile fired from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced.
On March 9, NATO-member Türkiye said it also shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran, in the second such incident five days.
“A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the Defense Ministry announced in a statement.
Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the southern Gaziantep area, causing no injuries, the ministry added.
The developments came amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, launched on Feb. 28, which have so far killed more than 1,000 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel further expanded its heavy bombardment of Iran overnight Sunday, carrying out waves of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including fuel depots near Tehran, as fighting escalated on day 10 of the U.S.-Israeli campaign.
Lebanon was also drawn into the Middle East war last week, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader during U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Moreover, Türkiye has deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of a phased plan aimed at strengthening the territory’s security, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced Monday.
In a written statement, the ministry said the deployment began Monday and was carried out in response to recent developments in the region.
“Within the framework of phased planning aimed at increasing the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in light of recent developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems have been deployed to the TRNC starting today,” the ministry noted.
The statement added that additional measures could be taken depending on further assessments of developments in the region.
“Following evaluations to be made in line with developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary,” it said.
The development comes amid the rising tensions in the Middle East and growing military cooperation between the Greek Cypriot administration and its Western partners.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler are expected to brief lawmakers at Parliament on Tuesday about U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East and measures taken by Ankara in response, according to parliamentary sources.
The briefing will take place during Tuesday’s General Assembly session, where the ministers are expected to outline the latest developments in the Middle East, including the risk of the conflict spreading and its potential impact on regional security.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday pledged to build a stronger and “terror-free Türkiye” for younger generations, saying the country would continue advancing toward its “Century of Türkiye” vision with youth at the forefront.
Speaking during a reception for young people and national athletes at the Presidential Complex in Ankara to mark the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s youth represented the “pioneers, architects and guides” of a new era for the country.
“We are trying to free our country from a half-century-old scourge through the process of a terror-free Türkiye while also strengthening our national unity and solidarity,” Erdoğan said. “Our greatest goal is for you not to experience the hardships and difficulties that we endured.”
The president said Türkiye would continue investing in youth “in every field” as it moves toward its long-term national goals.
Erdoğan also highlighted the historical significance of May 19, 1919, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Samsun and launched the War of Independence against occupying forces following World War I.
“The first page of our epic National Struggle was written on May 19, 1919, with the youth of Anatolia and with the ink of our nation’s independence and future,” he said.
During the program, Erdoğan met with young participants and athletes from across Türkiye and abroad, answering questions and holding informal discussions.
In a lighter moment during the gathering, Erdoğan said he still plays basketball three times a week and joked that he scored 68 points during a morning game.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned events and statements held in Greece on May 19 over so-called “Pontus” allegations, criticized Athens for distorting history and exploiting historical grievances for political purposes.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun in 1919 – the beginning of Türkiye’s War of Independence against occupying powers, including Greece – the ministry said Greece continues to promote “groundless claims lacking any legal basis” through legislation adopted in 1994 and educational programs taught in schools nationwide.
The ministry said Greece was attempting to cover up “its own atrocities and war crimes” committed during the occupation of western Anatolia after the failed pursuit of the “Megali Idea,” referring to the expansionist vision that sought to unite former Byzantine territories under Greek rule.
Türkiye stressed that crimes committed by the Greek army during the occupation were documented in Allied investigation commission reports and recorded in Article 59 of the Lausanne Peace Treaty.
Calling on Greek authorities to stop “abusing history for political concerns,” Ankara urged Athens to remember massacres committed against Turks and other ethnic groups, beginning with the Tripolitsa massacre in 1821 and continuing during the Greek occupation of Izmir and western Anatolia after May 15, 1919.
The ministry also urged Greece to abandon rhetoric that fuels hostility and instead adopt a constructive approach aimed at improving bilateral ties through peace and cooperation.
The head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalın, met Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa in Damascus on Monday as Türkiye and Syria continue efforts to strengthen coordination on regional developments and bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, held at the People’s Palace in the Syrian capital, was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Director Hussein al-Salamah, according to Syrian officials.
Discussions focused on recent regional developments and ways to deepen cooperation and coordination between Ankara and Damascus amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.
Kalın, a key figure in Türkiye-Syria relations, became the first senior Turkish official to visit Damascus under the new administration. On Dec. 12, the Turkish spymaster prayed at the historic Umayyad Mosque amid heavy security measures.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a phone call Tuesday that escalating regional tensions have once again demonstrated the strategic importance of relations between Türkiye and the European Union.
The call covered Türkiye-European Union relations alongside regional and global developments, the Turkish Communications Directorate said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
During the call, Erdoğan said Türkiye has been working to maintain a cease-fire and ensure peace in the ongoing conflict in the region, adding that the Strait of Hormuz should also be reopened as soon as possible.
He added that Israel seeks the continuation of conflicts in the region and continues to violate international law, including acts described as piracy, stressing the need to boost international pressure on Israel.
Erdoğan also underlined that Türkiye’s inclusion in Europe’s security strategy initiatives would be beneficial, that the Turkish-EU Customs Union needs to be updated, and that cooperation should be expanded across all fields in order to strengthen economic integration and advance shared interests.
Burhanettin Duran, head of communications for the Turkish Presidency, said Tuesday that access to 1,352 additional social media accounts linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) had been blocked, bringing the total number of restricted accounts to 1,731.
In a statement posted on the social media platform NSosyal, Duran said Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications continued to carry out “comprehensive digital monitoring and analysis” efforts aimed at countering online propaganda and disinformation activities linked to terrorist groups.
Duran recalled that authorities had previously identified and restricted access to 379 accounts affiliated with FETÖ. Following further technical analysis and digital network investigations, authorities determined that 1,352 more accounts were connected to the group, he noted.
He also said legal action and access restrictions had been imposed on 361 additional social media accounts accused of “praising terrorism, encouraging extremist propaganda and conducting psychological operations against Türkiye.”
According to Duran, the measures were implemented in coordination with the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and other state institutions.
“The analyses clearly revealed that these digital structures systematically produced disinformation, carried out coordinated propaganda activities and acted in an organized manner to manipulate public opinion,” Duran said.
Duran stressed that Türkiye is continuing its fight against terrorism not only in the physical sphere but also across digital platforms under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“No terrorist organization, its affiliates or any digital operation targeting our national security will be tolerated,” he said, adding that Turkish institutions remained on alert against online threats.
Türkiye seeks to expand cooperation with Japan in defense, technology, trade and reconstruction projects in third countries as regional instability and shifting global dynamics push the two nations toward closer strategic coordination, a senior Turkish lawmaker said Tuesday.
Fuat Oktay, chairperson of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), spoke during an official visit to Japan by a parliamentary delegation including AK Party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members.
The delegation traveled to Japan at the invitation of Konosuke Kokuba, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Japan’s House of Representatives.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Oktay said the visit aimed to strengthen relations between Türkiye and Japan, not only at the governmental level but also through parliamentary diplomacy as both countries confront increasingly complex regional and global developments.
“Recent developments are progressing extremely rapidly both in our own region, in the region where Japan is located, and globally,” Oktay said.
The Turkish delegation includes AK Party lawmakers Oğuz Üçüncü and Ziya Altunyaldız, CHP lawmaker Talih Özcan and MHP lawmaker Kamil Aydın.
Historical roots
Oktay noted the two countries’ longstanding friendship should be reflected more strongly in investment, trade, defense cooperation, technology, tourism and joint projects in third countries.
He pointed to the 19th-century sinking of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul off the coast of Japan as a symbol of the historic ties between the two nations.
“This friendship has continued to develop until today,” Oktay said, noting recent visits by members of the Japanese Imperial Family to Türkiye as further signs of close relations.
Economic ties
Türkiye is also seeking to increase Japanese investment and rebalance bilateral trade, which Oktay said currently stands at between $6.5 billion and $7 billion annually.
“We believe the level of $10 billion and $15 billion should now be surpassed,” he said.
Oktay said Japanese investment in Türkiye remains relatively limited despite decades of economic cooperation. According to Oktay, Japan has invested approximately $3.1 billion in Türkiye over the past 20 years, accounting for roughly 1.5% of Türkiye’s total foreign investment inflows.
He cited Toyota as one of the strongest examples of successful Japanese investment in Türkiye, describing the automaker’s Turkish factory as one of the company’s most efficient production facilities worldwide.
Türkiye currently hosts 278 Japanese companies, Oktay said, adding that Ankara wants the number to grow significantly.
The Turkish official said parliamentary diplomacy could help remove legal and bureaucratic obstacles facing businesses and accelerate approval processes for bilateral agreements.
Beyond bilateral economic ties, Oktay emphasized the potential for cooperation in reconstruction and infrastructure projects in countries such as Syria and Ukraine.
“We see that stability is beginning to emerge in Syria and that the reconstruction process is coming onto the agenda,” he remarked.
Oktay said Türkiye’s strength in construction and contracting services could complement Japan’s financial capabilities in rebuilding efforts abroad, adding that discussions were also underway regarding potential joint projects in Africa.
One of the most significant new areas of cooperation between the two countries, Oktay said, is defense industry collaboration.
Japan’s defense policies remained relatively constrained for decades after World War II, but Turkish officials now see growing Japanese interest in defense partnerships as regional security concerns intensify.
“Türkiye’s recent achievements in the defense industry are drawing attention from all over the world,” Oktay said, referencing growing military contacts between the two countries, including recent visits by Japanese defense officials and military representatives.
He said Türkiye hopes the increased dialogue will quickly evolve into concrete joint projects.
Oktay also highlighted motor technologies and advanced manufacturing as strategic sectors for future cooperation.
“Japan has very strong expertise in this field,” he noted, referring to engine technologies. “Its design and manufacturing capabilities, especially stemming from the automotive industry, can contribute to many sectors, including aviation.”
Turkish and Japanese defense and technology companies are examining possible cooperation in aviation, automotive production, advanced manufacturing and engine systems, he added.
Tourism was another major topic discussed during the visit.
According to Oktay, around 160,000 Japanese tourists visited Türkiye in 2025, with destinations such as Cappadocia, Şanlıurfa and Göbeklitepe attracting strong interest due to their historical and cultural significance.
Türkiye hopes to increase the number of Japanese visitors to between 300,000 and 400,000 in the coming years, Oktay said.
“Tourism is not only about revenue,” he said. “It is also a very important tool for strengthening cultural ties between the two peoples.”
The visit also includes discussions on regional security issues, including Iran, Iraq and broader geopolitical tensions across Asia and the Middle East.
Oktay said Turkish and Japanese officials would exchange views on reducing tensions, strengthening regional stability and supporting peace efforts amid ongoing global conflicts.
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