Politics
Türkiye showcases naval strength in ‘Blue Homeland’
The Turkish army’s 120 vessels, 50 aerial vehicles and 15,000 personnel from naval, lans and air forces joined the Blue Homeland military exercise, which began on April 3. The exercise, which will conclude on April 9, is being carried out in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. The three areas are under the risk of tensions that occasionally escalate, requiring Türkiye to remain committed to steady defense spending. The Black Sea has seen an increased threat of spillover from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, from stray naval mines and drones washing ashore to attacks on commercial ships near Turkish shores. The Aegean Sea, in the meantime, remains a source of tension with Greece due to maritime jurisdiction disputes.
The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that the exercise aimed to increase the preparedness level of the army and assessing the capacity of transfer and command in commands under the Naval Forces. The ministry said the exercise will also contribute to development of judgment, foresight and decision-making skills in multi-threat environments for personnel and elements joining the Blue Homeland, as well as trial of interoperability between commands of different forces of the army.
“Blue Homeland” is also the name of a doctrine conceived by two former Turkish naval officers. The doctrine encompasses Türkiye’s maritime jurisdictions, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with United Nations resolutions. These connected issues have been a source of dispute between Türkiye and Greece for decades.
Ankara and Athens seek to improve relations after years of hostilities but maritime jurisdictions remain a thorny issue. The countries that came close to an all-out war in the 1990s over the Aegean Sea remain vigilant, with Türkiye concentrating on developing a domestic defense industry. Greece relies on foreign partners to boost its defenses.
The exercise had been on a two-year hiatus before Türkiye decided to resume in January 2025.
Embracing the doctrine of being effective and powerful at sea as its predecessor the Ottomans were once, Türkiye in the past two decades has developed an independent defense industry capable of operating in open waters, thereby shifting geopolitical balances in its favor. The navy plays a critical role in ensuring the security of maritime trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, promoting regional stability. In the past two decades, Türkiye has reached a milestone by designing and producing its own warships. The TCG Heybeliada, the first indigenous corvette, was commissioned in 2011, followed by projects for indigenous frigates and destroyers. The ADVENT combat management system, developed domestically, represents a significant achievement, enhancing the capabilities of the Turkish navy. In 2024, the country commissioned its first of six planned Reis-class submarines. The project for the Piri Reis submarine, the first of its class, was launched in 2019. It has a length of 68.35 meters (224.25 feet) and a capacity of 40 personnel.
Though they bolstered their defenses, Türkiye and Greece still count on a full thaw in relations. After a long period of tensions marked by disputes over irregular migration, the Cyprus dispute, energy exploration and territorial sovereignty in the Aegean, the two countries have been taking confidence-building steps, which moved into a new chapter with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s landmark visit to Athens two years ago.
While officials on both sides have expressed commitment to maintaining the positive climate, the issues are longstanding and deep-rooted, and neither side expects the process to be without turbulence, particularly in the Aegean, where Turkish and Greek jets often scuffled until very recently.
Ankara has repeatedly warned its neighbor against entering an arms race with Türkiye, particularly on building a military presence on the disputed Aegean islands since the 1960s, in violation of postwar treaties.
Türkiye’s Defense Ministry on March 12 accused Greece of violating international treaties governing the status of several Aegean islands, warning that Athens’ recent initiatives undermine bilateral relations and contradict the legal framework established by international agreements.
Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Ankara, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said Greek actions regarding the islands run counter to provisions set out in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, which require certain islands to remain demilitarized.
“The initiatives by Greece that violate the status of the islands contrary to duly concluded treaties both create legal violations and damage our neighborly and allied relations,” Aktürk said.
He noted that the Eastern Aegean islands were transferred to Greece under the Lausanne Treaty and the Paris Peace Treaty on the condition that they remain demilitarized.
According to the ministry, islands including Limnos and Karpathos fall under provisions that require them to maintain a demilitarized status.
The ministry said any actions that alter this status constitute a breach of the agreements and stressed that unilateral steps cannot legally terminate the demilitarized provisions established by international treaties.
“These fait accompli attempts do not lead to the unilateral termination of the demilitarized status,” the ministry said in a statement.
Turkish officials also accused Greece of attempting to use regional tensions to advance its own positions.
“We do not accept Greece’s initiatives that do not serve a genuine purpose and aim to turn the crises in our region into opportunities,” the ministry said, adding that Ankara has taken the necessary measures in response.
It was previously stated that Greece aims to deploy five different types of missile systems on Aegean islands and near the Turkish-Greek land border under the “Achilles’ Shield” project.
The ministry also stressed that disputes between NATO allies are particularly concerning at a time when multiple security crises continue to affect the broader region.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Türkiye intensified diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan holding talks Monday with his Russian and Saudi counterparts, diplomatic sources said.
According to sources from the Foreign Ministry, the discussions focused on initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the conflict and advancing diplomatic solutions.
The calls are part of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to engage regional and global actors in pursuit of a cease-fire and a lasting resolution.
Earlier on Monday, Fidan warned that Israel may disrupt the cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran. Türkiye has repeatedly emphasized the need to prevent further escalation and to prioritize diplomatic efforts amid rising tensions in the region.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, sparking retaliation from Tehran that has plunged the Middle East into conflict and shaken the global economy.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday hailed the “sincerity” of the United States and Iran on achieving a cease-fire. However, he warned that Israel may disrupt the process. Fidan also pointed out to Israel’s emerging “state strategy” of finding “new enemies” in the region such as Türkiye.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Fidan also commented on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The minister has been at the forefront of Türkiye’s peace diplomacy, contacting relevant parties to achieve cease-fire in US-Israel-Iran war.
“The whole world wants free international passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz should remain open through peace, using an international armed force is a challenge,” he said. He stated that Strait of Hormuz issue demonstrated that the war not merely “regional” but a conflict with global repercussions. He highlighted that the Strait was where up to 25% of natural gas and oil shipments went through. “We are facing a situation where a great logistics chain, production and industrial infrastructure is affected,” he added. “The question now is how the Strait is going to be run.” Fidan emphasized the importance of keeping international shipping routes open amid rising tensions in the Gulf. “What the entire world wants is that international transit remain free and not be obstructed,” he said. He warned that stability in the waterway cannot be achieved through forceful measures. “Our position is to reopen it through peace. There are many difficulties in intervening here with an international armed peace force,” he said.
He also noted that there was a thin line of being party to the conflict targeting Iran and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. “But no country wants to be part of this war, Europeans in particular openly expressed this,” he stated.
On Türkiye’s stand, Fidan pointed out the stance adopted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since the beginning of the war and this was “the policy of keeping Türkiye out of war.” He said the situation in Hormuz had a significant impact on the global markets and Türkiye made every contribution to resolve the issue. The minister, however, added that Türkiye was not “very much dependent on Strait of Hormuz in terms of energy security, energy supplies.” “Share of natural gas in electricity production dropped and share of renewable energy sources dramatically increased in past two decades. But we feel the indirect impact of the situation, especially on pricing. Energy supplies are delivered smoothly but pricing poses a problem. This may be a burden on the economy in the long run,” he warned.
Fidan also warned about Israel’s actions in Syria and Lebanon. On incursions into Syria, Fidan noted that it also posed a major risk for Türkiye. He said Israeli attacks in Lebanon resembled what it has done in Gaza, underlining that it engaged in a depopulation campaign by destroying housing and infrastructure.
Türkiye’s top diplomat said such negotiations start out with maximalist demands, but the sides usually try to find common ground with the support of mediators. “We only hope that they will have a lasting intention to reach a cease-fire and sustain it. As far as I can see, they are sincere on this,” he said. Fidan noted they were in touch with the sides after the talks in Islamabad, and throughout Sunday, they held talks on assessing the point of deadlock in the talks and what Türkiye can do to resolve it. He pointed out the “Israel factor.” “We should always consider what Israel can do to disrupt it. We always highlighted this to the U.S. side,” he stated.
On the contents of the talks, Fidan said it should be acknowledged that it might not have been technically possible to agree upon a final document within a timetable of 15 days, based on the topics discussed at the Islamabad meeting. He said that if any progress can be made, the sides can agree upon an additional cease-fire for continuing talks for a time period between 45 and 60 days. “If the talks turn to the nuclear issue with an all-or-nothing approach, especially on the issue of uranium enrichment, the talks can hit a serious obstacle. Still, this may be overcome with the support of mediators, other countries,” he stressed. He warned that military approaches to securing key global sea lanes would be highly complex and urged diplomacy to ensure uninterrupted maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint.
Israel seeks enemies
He further commented on Israel’s regional posture, saying: “We see that Israel may seek to designate Türkiye as a new adversary after Iran, as it cannot sustain itself without an enemy.” “After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy,” Fidan underlined.
“We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition, though not all, are seeking to declare Türkiye the new enemy,” he said. “This is a new development in Israel, turning into a state strategy,” he added.
His statements follow social media posts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz who targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in insulting remarks. Statements of Israeli officials, apparently aimed to encourage the opposition to take action against Erdoğan, backfired. Both government officials and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) were united in their condemnation of Israeli officials’ remarks, standing for Erdoğan against what they described as the words of perpetrators of genocide in Gaza.
On a question whether Israel shifted gears in its approach to Türkiye and whether it was a permanent policy, Fidan answered “both.” “Israel has an inferiority complex due to our president’s political leadership in the region. They cannot admit how Türkiye elevated its role in the region with its strategic balancing. They cannot steer Türkiye,” he said. He said many countries oppose Israel’s policies toward Palestine and Lebanon but Türkiye had a different diplomatic approach, standing out among others. “Our president’s global leadership, his close ties with leaders, Türkiye’s network of interaction, all of these affect Israel’s rhetoric to create illusions about the truth. In this context, it is understandable that they attack our president, our political elite,” he said.
Risks in Syria
Turning to Syria, Fidan described the situation as a major security concern for Turkiye. “We see a major problem area in Syria. This is a big risk for us,” he said, referring to Israel’s attacks. He added that Israel’s current focus on its confrontation with Iran could delay but not rule out its future moves in Syria. “Because of the war underway in Iran, it is not doing certain things (against Syria), but that does not mean it will not. When the time comes, it will want to do it,” he said.
Following the collapse of the Baathist regime in 2024, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the two sides no longer valid, moved into the Syrian buffer zone and has since carried out near-daily strikes and incursions. Israeli forces target Syrian territory almost daily, carrying out ground incursions, particularly in rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa in southern Syria, detaining civilians, setting up checkpoints to search and question passersby, and damaging agricultural land. Türkiye views it as part of Israel’s aggressive expansionism in the region and is worried that it may fuel instability in post-civil war Syria. Damascus is already trying to stay away from the spillover of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.
Fidan also criticized regional cooperation formats involving Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and Israel, arguing they heighten tensions rather than ease them. “Their cooperation does not bring more trust, it brings more mistrust. It brings more problems and war,” he said. He also called for a wider regional security framework based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity across the Middle East.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the protection of the family institution as a matter of national security, warning that threats to family values could undermine the foundation of Turkish society and the state.
Speaking at an event organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)’s women’s branch, Erdoğan said the family remains the “core pillar” of society and must be safeguarded against growing global pressures.
“We see the protection of the family and family values as a matter of national security and survival. Any attack on the family is also an attack on the backbone of the nation and the state,” he said.
He warned that even small disruptions within the structure linking individuals, families and the nation could lead to long-term and difficult-to-repair consequences, stressing that attacks on the family should be seen as direct threats to the stability of the state.
Erdoğan said the government has accelerated efforts in recent years to strengthen family structures, introducing new policies and support mechanisms. These include the establishment of the Population Policies Board in 2024 and the designation of 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” alongside financial support programs aimed at young couples.
He added that Türkiye plans to expand these initiatives further under its “Family and Population Decade” strategy covering the 2026–2035 period, focusing on social policy, education and long-term demographic stability.
Highlighting modern challenges, Erdoğan pointed to addiction as one of the most serious threats facing families today. He said issues, such as online gambling, social media dependency, tobacco use and substance abuse are damaging households and eroding social cohesion.
He also warned about emerging risks linked to digital technologies, including screen addiction, algorithm-driven content consumption and harmful online environments that expose children to cyberbullying and inappropriate material.
Citing global data, Erdoğan noted that over 1.25 billion adults use tobacco worldwide and that millions die each year from related illnesses. He added that the age of smoking initiation in Türkiye has declined in recent years, while online gambling is becoming an increasing concern, particularly among younger populations.
The president said the government has taken steps to combat illegal betting and gambling through a national action plan launched in November, adding that early indicators suggest progress in bringing the issue under control.
Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye will continue to prioritize family protection policies, emphasizing that safeguarding family values is essential not only for social stability but also for the country’s long-term resilience and security.
The Spanish port of Barcelona is set to see off activists of the second Global Sumud Flotilla later on Sunday.
Activists from Türkiye will soon join the flotilla, which aims to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave Gaza, where tens of thousands of people have been slaughtered by Israel since 2023 and many more have been left to survive on limited means.
About 30 boats planned to leave the Mediterranean port city laden with medical aid and other supplies on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and more vessels are expected to join along the route toward Palestine.
Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, one of the Turkish activists and organizers of the flotilla, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that they expanded their strategy this time and it was not only about breaking the blockade through a sea route. “We will also launch a land convoy and hold a congress on April 22. She said “the unity at sea and land” will launch pressure on governments that endorsed Israel’s genocide. Ordu is the only Turkish organizer of the flotilla and said their numbers will be higher this time.
“In our first attempt, we achieved some concrete results. For instance, Palestinian fishermen were able to fish off the coast of Gaza after a long time because Israelis were too distracted as they were busy with stopping us. Then, we witnessed a cease-fire even if it was not fully honored. Moreover, we had the support of Palestinians who invited us again. We are doing this because they expect us,” she stated.
The Israeli military halted the roughly 40 boats assembled by the same organization last October as they attempted to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its more than 2 million residents. Yet Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching the territory are still insufficient, despite a cease-fire reached in October, which included guarantees of increased aid.
Liam Cunningham, an actor who starred in the “Game of Thrones” television series who is supporting the flotilla but not taking part, told Reuters: “Every kilogram of aid that is on these ships is a failure because all these people on these ships giving up their time to help their fellow human beings are doing what their governments are legally obliged to do.”
The World Health Organization has said that even during armed conflicts, states are obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure that people are able to reach medical care in safety.
“This is a mission that aims to open a humanitarian corridor so the aid delivery organizations can arrive,” Saif Abukeshak, a Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s organising committee, told Reuters.
Speaking at a news conference in Ankara earlier this week, Zeynel Abidin Özkan, a Turkish activist who took part in the first flotilla, said that number of boats will increase this time. “More boats will join them in Italian, Greek and Turkish territorial waters,” he said.
Created in 2025 by NGO representatives, activists and volunteers from various countries, the flotilla last sailed in September with 42 boats and 462 people. This time, it will have at least 70 boats and nearly 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries.
One of the flotilla’s spokespersons, Pablo Castilla, stated that the main goal of the initiative is “to condemn international complicity in what is happening in Gaza, demand accountability, and open a humanitarian corridor by sea and land.” Castilla expressed concern that international attention on Gaza has declined due to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon. “Israel has intensified the blockade on Gaza, restricted aid entry, expanded settlements, and accelerated land confiscation,” he said.
Other organizers emphasized that they are acting within the law and that the mission is being coordinated with Palestinian civil society organizations, legal experts, politicians and specialists in maritime security and media strategy. This year, the participation of well-known NGOs such as Greenpeace and Open Arms, along with increased support from the Barcelona municipality, stands out.
During the flotilla’s previous attempt in September, Israeli forces stopped the vessels in what organizers described as an unlawful intervention, boarded them, detained volunteers and took them to Israel.
Israeli naval forces initially boarded several boats about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, cutting communications and blocking signals. They also used drones to interfere, disrupting emergency signals and live broadcasts of the boarding.
The Gaza Strip needs around 450 tons of flour daily, while only around 200 tons are currently available, Gaza’s government media office said Sunday.
Israel is intensifying a policy of “engineered starvation” in Gaza by restricting flour supplies, the office said in a statement.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that allows the entry of 600 trucks per day, Israel allows only 38% of pre-war supply, it added.
The office said the crisis worsened after World Central Kitchen halted its flour support, as the U.S.-based charity previously provided 20 to 30 tons daily, while the World Food Program reduced its supplies from 300 to 200 tons per day, adding that several other organizations have also suspended their bread and flour programs to the enclave.
About 1.9 million people in Gaza, out of a population of 2.4 million, remain displaced and live in harsh conditions in worn-out tents after their homes were destroyed during Israel’s two-year war.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, amid Israel’s failure to allow the agreed levels of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and shelter materials.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured about 172,000 others, and has caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of civilian infrastructure.
Few people in Türkiye were familiar with Muhoozi Kainerugaba, head of Ugandan Armed Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni. It all changed after a series of tweets he fired up over the past two days.
The general, who fashioned out his tweets with occasional all caps like U.S. President Donald Trump, threatened to cut off all ties with Türkiye and asked for $1 billion from the country as well as “most beautiful wife” within one month in now-deleted rants on Twitter.
Many on Turkish social media wondered the reasoning behind tweets while Ankara has been quiet on Kainerugaba.
Within hours, Turks flooded his social media accounts with insults and some even called him to dare to attack Türkiye.
A Twitter user pointed out that Uganda’s gross domestic product (GDP) was smaller than Izmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city while another social media user said that Uganda “with its two tanks and 5,000 pistols” cannot threaten Türkiye.
Turkish Foreign Ministry did not comment on the tweets while Kainerugaba posted another tweet on Saturday, saying he loved Turkish people despite “insults.” He also retweeted Adonia Ayebare, who tweeted that general’s tweets were reflection of “dissatisfaction with the way Uganda’s serious concerns have been handled.”
“There should be no cause for alarm,” Ayebare assured.
Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the Iran cease-fire negotiations in calls with U.S. and Pakistani officials who participated in the weekend talks in Islamabad, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said Sunday.
Fidan and the U.S. and Pakistani officials, including his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, discussed the approaches presented by both sides during the negotiations and addressed future course of action.
Iranian and U.S. delegations concluded face-to-face talks in the Pakistani capital early Sunday, without reaching an agreement.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, sparking retaliation from Tehran that has plunged the Middle East into conflict and shaken the global economy.
Iran and the U.S. had entered the talks mediated by Pakistan with maximalist positions, with Washington piling pressure by saying it had sent minesweeping ships through the vital Strait of Hormuz maritime route.
Signs of strain in the negotiations appeared when Iranian media accused the United States of making “excessive demands” over the strait, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil transited before its effective closure by Iran during the war.
Following more than 20 hours of talks in Islamabad, U.S. Vice President JD Vance admitted the yawning differences between the U.S. and Iran proved to be insurmountable for the moment.
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