Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay is facing growing pressure not to rejoin Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) amid speculation over his political future ahead of CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s visit to the western province.

Tugay, who remains an independent after leaving the CHP, has reportedly received messages from local New Party (YP) politicians, urging him not to return to his former party, according to reports citing CHP officials. Some of the messages allegedly included veiled threats.

The speculation intensified ahead of Kılıçdaroğlu’s visit to Izmir on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to make a series of visits before chairing a meeting of the CHP’s Central Executive Board (MYK).

Rumors that Tugay could meet Kılıçdaroğlu during the visit and potentially return to the CHP have prompted concern within the YP, according to the reports.

CHP officials, however, said there are currently no scheduled meetings between Kılıçdaroğlu and Tugay, while leaving open the possibility of developments during the visit. They also said the party leadership had not been in direct contact with Tugay since his resignation.

The controversy follows allegations that New Party Izmir lawmaker Tuncay Özkan warned Tugay during Aug. 30 ceremonies to make a decision about his political future, allegedly telling him to “watch his step.” Özkan denied the allegations.

CHP Izmir provincial chair Utku Gümrükçü said Tugay, along with other mayors, would receive an official invitation to Kılıçdaroğlu’s program.

“We would like to see Izmir Metropolitan Municipality’s mayor among us,” Gümrükçü said.

Meanwhile, Muharrem Ince, who ran against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2018 elections, declared that he would not leave the CHP even after it lost its status as the main opposition after a major split.

The former physics teacher was once viewed as the savior of the CHP, which was doomed to consecutive defeats by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for the better part of the 2000s, and had garnered more than 30% of the vote in the 2018 election. Yet, after his defeat, he rapidly lost clout in the party and went on to found the Homeland Party in 2021. After the party was dissolved, he returned to the CHP last year upon invitation by then-Chairperson Özgür Özel.

Özel, ousted as CHP chair in May, founded YP, but Ince abstained from joining other figures of the CHP leaving the party en masse for YP. He has been cautious so far, but in statements over the weekend, he revealed that he would stay in the CHP, which is now reduced to a shadow of its former self.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Türkiye on Sunday marked the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Dumlupınar, which cemented the success of the Turkish War of Independence in the post-World War I country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and dignitaries paid tribute to martyrs and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, on the occasion observed as Victory Day.

In a message, Erdoğan noted that nefarious plots were still afoot against Türkiye and the wider region 104 years later and vowed that they would not let them succeed. “We are decisively standing up for the independence and future of our nation,” Erdoğan wrote in a memorial notebook at Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara, which he visited with the Cabinet and military brass.

Atatürk, a seasoned officer, was commander-in-chief at the battle in 1922 and personally commanded a war-weary army in present-day Kütahya, where the battlefield was located. Eventually, Turkish forces defeated the invading Greek forces, pushing them farther west. The battle was the penultimate episode of Büyük Taarruz, or the Great Offensive, a campaign led by Ankara-based Atatürk, who mobilized the nation amid the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to save the country by forcing out the invading forces.

Victory Day is viewed as the ultimate blow to the imperialist takeover of Türkiye by various world powers at the time, and this view is often highlighted nowadays as the country faces rising security threats in the region, primarily due to Israel’s expansionist policies.

In his tribute to Atatürk, Erdoğan wrote in the memorial notebook that Türkiye was grateful to him, the first members of the Turkish Parliament, who played a role in planning the campaign against the invaders, and the heroes of the Turkish army. “The Republic of Türkiye is a sacred legacy entrusted to us by martyrs and veterans. Guided by their efforts, we are strengthening brotherhood and solidarity in every field,” Erdoğan also wrote.

The president later hosted ministers, military commanders, ambassadors, lawmakers, political party leaders and other dignitaries at the Presidential Complex for a Victory Day event and joined a ceremony at the Land Forces School. Victory Day is also known as Armed Forces Day, as it pays tribute to soldiers who fought for independence and honors the historic battles of the Turkish armies throughout history that took place in August.

In a separate message on the occasion released by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan underlined that the Aug. 30 victory “once again ensured that these lands where we have lived freely for 1,000 years are and will remain our homeland forever.”

“The Great Victory, which also paved the way for the establishment of our republic, proclaimed to the entire world that our nation would never accept captivity, while also contributing to breaking the imperialist encirclement of our region,” he said.

“Inspired and emboldened by its glorious history, Türkiye is moving confidently toward its goals with success stories in every field, from energy and the defense industry to science and technology and foreign policy. At a time when wars, conflicts, crises and political uncertainties are increasing around the world, particularly in our region, Türkiye stands out with its principled, resolute and proactive policies centered on humanitarian values. Today, there is a Türkiye that seeks to prevent oppression, regardless of who perpetrates it, and to stand by the oppressed, regardless of who they are, never shying away from paying the price when necessary for this cause. ‘As long as the blue sky above does not collapse and the black earth beneath does not split open,’ no one will be able to make Türkiye and the Turkish nation abandon their sacred struggle,” Erdoğan said, using a quote from the ancient Turkic Orkhon inscriptions.

“Despite all the provocations and incitement by those who feed on instability, as a state and a nation, we will continue to stand for what is right, the rule of law, justice, peace and stability,” Erdoğan also stated.

Victory Day was also an occasion for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to showcase their might. Military parades were held in all 81 provinces, while the army’s locally made vessels were opened to the public for visits.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

On alert against provocations aimed at disrupting the terror-free Türkiye process, authorities on Sunday announced that four suspects who were hanging pictures of PKK terrorists on walls in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır had been detained.

The Diyarbakır Governor’s Office, in a province with a large Kurdish population, said in a statement that the incident was “isolated” and took place “only in a few small streets.”

On Sunday, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said in a social media post that authorities would not tolerate anyone trying to thwart the terror-free Türkiye process. The initiative seeks the full disarmament of the terrorist group and recently took a new turn with the introduction of a new law concerning the future status of PKK members. The law defers the prosecution and sentencing of PKK members who were not involved in acts of terrorism.

The PKK stepped up its propaganda activities after the law was introduced, as a party aligned with the group held “remembrance events” for slain PKK terrorists. The events angered critics of the initiative.

Çiftçi said that “every provocateur attempting to poison the climate of national unity and brotherhood will be subject to the treatment he/she deserves.” Proponents of the initiative, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, say the process will strengthen unity between Turks and Kurds. The latter has been exploited by the PKK for decades, as the terrorist group claims to fight for Kurdish self-rule in the southeast.

“As the Ministry of Interior, we are working in full coordination with all institutions and bodies of our state to completely rid our country of terrorism, remove violence entirely from our agenda and strengthen our social cohesion. The terror-free Türkiye process is an opportunity to open a new chapter that will free our country from the shackles holding it back and provide peace and prosperity for every one of its citizens.

“We are closely and resolutely monitoring the process to ensure that this sensitive period remains free from all forms of provocation and exploitation. We now face a new period that will further strengthen our brotherhood and enable us to channel our energy toward development, production and the prosperity of our nation. In this historic process, everyone, from political parties and civil society organizations to our citizens, has an important responsibility to fulfill,” Çiftçi said in his social media post.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Türkiye’s declaration of marine parks in the Aegean Sea earlier this month annoyed Greece, which disputes Turkish maritime borders.

Greek media outlets reported that Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis would raise the issue at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on Sept. 2. He is expected to reiterate Greece’s claim that the marine parks violate international law. Gerapetritis previously announced that Greece had issued a diplomatic note to Türkiye about the matter.

Two presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 16 reaffirmed Türkiye’s maritime rights in the Aegean Sea.

One decree designated an area between the Fethiye district of Muğla and the Kaş district of Antalya in the southern Aegean as a “national marine park,” while another applied the same designation to an area in the North Aegean Sea, near the coasts of Tekirdağ and Çanakkale.

For Türkiye, it is merely a move to protect marine biodiversity, but marine parks have been a source of contention with neighboring Greece for some time. Greek media outlets reported earlier this month that the Greek government was also moving forward with plans to declare a new national marine park in the southern Aegean Sea. The decree on the matter is now before a top court in the country and, according to the To Vima website, will be finalized in October.

Greece last year announced two marine parks, or areas designated for the protection of marine species, in the Ionian Sea and around the southern Cyclades islands, to the chagrin of Ankara. Türkiye argued that the declaration of marine parks, particularly near the islands, was political rather than aimed at protecting biodiversity and was an attempt to change the status quo in the disputed sea. Greek media outlets reported that new marine parks could be declared near the Dodecanese islands, or “On İki Ada” (Twelve Islands), as they are known in Türkiye. The islands were Ottoman domains until the early 20th century, before they were ceded to Italy. Italy, in turn, ceded them to Greece following World War II.

Ankara and Athens seek to improve relations after years of hostilities, but maritime jurisdiction remains a thorny issue. The countries, which came close to an all-out war in the 1990s over the Aegean Sea, remain vigilant, with Türkiye concentrating on developing its domestic defense industry. Greece relies on foreign partners to bolster its defenses. Embracing the doctrine of being effective and powerful at sea, as its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, once was, Türkiye has over the past two decades 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, while promoting regional stability.

Ankara’s proactive stance on marine spatial planning is part of a broader strategy to assert its maritime rights and uphold international legal norms in the face of what it sees as encroaching initiatives by Greece. Turkish officials maintain that marine protection efforts must be transparent, equitable and cooperative, particularly in semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean, where maritime boundaries remain unsettled.

As Türkiye moves to institutionalize its marine planning within international frameworks, it seeks to preempt efforts that may attempt to redefine maritime jurisdiction through environmental discourse. The broader message from Ankara is clear: Marine conservation is vital, but not at the cost of geopolitical stability or sovereign rights.

Safeguarding its rights in its “Blue Homeland” (areas of Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction) is essential for Ankara, especially at a time of growing international cooperation, particularly involving Israel, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, whose maritime claims contradict those of Türkiye and other countries. In May, Türkiye unveiled plans for a “Blue Homeland law,” which is expected to be debated in Parliament when the next legislative term starts in October. Aiming to cover all legal aspects of maritime areas over which the country has sovereignty, the law will cement and clarify Türkiye’s rights across the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean and Marmara Sea.

Türkiye said Friday that Greece’s newly announced spatial planning framework covering parts of the Aegean Sea would have no legal effect on Ankara, reiterating its position on longstanding disputes between the two neighbors. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said Greece’s Special Spatial Framework for Industry and Supply Chains, announced Friday, would not create any legal consequences for Türkiye regarding the interconnected disputes in the Aegean.

“The Special Spatial Framework for Industry and Supply Chains announced by Greece today (Aug. 28), which also covers the Aegean Sea, will have no legal consequences for our country in the context of the interconnected Aegean disputes between the two countries, including geographical formations whose sovereignty was not transferred to Greece by international treaties,” Keçeli said.

He reiterated Ankara’s call for Athens to pursue an approach consistent with the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighborliness, signed by the two countries on Dec. 7, 2023. Keçeli also stressed Türkiye’s readiness to cooperate with Greece as one of the two coastal states of the Aegean Sea.

“We once again emphasize that, as Türkiye, we maintain our position that an approach consistent with the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighborliness should be adopted, and that as one of the two coastal states of the Aegean Sea, we are always ready to cooperate with Greece,” he said.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Somali authorities said Saturday that the Turkish navy, along with Somali armed forces, had freed a hijacked vessel held in Somali waters and killed 14 pirates after a battle lasting several days.

The Horn of Africa has seen a resurgence in piracy since April, according to figures from the International Maritime Organization, with at least 15 attacks off the coast of Somalia this year, the highest number since 2013.

“During the 10-day operation, four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 pirates were killed,” a Somali Defense Ministry statement said.

“The sustained military pressure finally forced the remaining pirates to abandon the ship,” it added.

“The forces subsequently secured the MV LATUF, which has now safely resumed its journey.”

According to sources in Puntland, at least eight crew members were on board, including one Turk.

The MarineTraffic website shows that the vessel, which operates under a Cameroonian flag, left Türkiye in late July bound for the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.

The joint Türkiye-Somalia operation was carried out as part of a defense cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Piracy was rampant off the coast of Somalia in the 2000s, peaking in 2011 before being curbed by international naval deployments and new protection measures for commercial shipping. But attacks have surged since April, with at least five cargo ships held hostage, the latest of which was seized on Aug. 20 off Yemen.

A Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed between Türkiye and Somalia in February 2024 covers defense ties as well as efforts to strengthen Somalia’s maritime security capabilities.

Under the agreement, Türkiye is expected to support Somalia in protecting its maritime jurisdiction, securing marine resources and combating illegal activities. Türkiye has also long provided military training and capacity-building support in Somalia.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry social media post targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan outraged Türkiye, a steadfast champion of the Palestinian cause.

Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said in a statement on Sunday that the post by the Israeli ministry was “terrorism propaganda of the genocide network” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“It does not mean anything for anyone, but the strong voice of our president for humanity’s alliance will continue guiding those engaged in politics to preserve humanity’s dignity,” Çelik said in a social media post.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry branded Erdoğan “anti-Semitic,” an adjective now casually thrown at anyone opposing Israel’s genocidal actions toward Palestinians in Gaza and beyond.

Çelik stated that the “genocidal network is churning out lies, targeting our president.”

Erdoğan’s remarks during an event in Istanbul on Friday reignited rising anti-Turkish rhetoric in Israel. The president lashed out at the “radical, genocidal ideology of Zionism” in his speech.

“When we draw attention to the expansionist ambitions of Zionism, we are not doing so for ourselves, but on behalf of all the peoples of the region, regardless of their faith, and on behalf of humanity as a whole,” Erdoğan said at the event held to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

“Even kites are seen as a threat and prevented from flying in Gaza, which the genocide network has turned into the world’s largest children’s cemetery. Millions of our brothers and sisters in Palestine alone are struggling to survive under extremely difficult conditions, deprived of even the most basic necessities. Likewise, in Lebanon, 1.3 million of our brothers and sisters have been forced to leave their homes due to attacks by the Israeli administration. More than 4,000 people have been killed, while more than 12,000 Lebanese, most of them women and children, have been injured. Israel’s current government, addicted to war, is trying every provocation imaginable to drag our entire region into instability.”

President Erdoğan said civilians pay the price for silence in the face of ruthless oppressors.

“Unfortunately, in recent history, civilians were forced to pay the price for the silence in the face of Hitler, Pol Pot and other ruthless tyrants. Millions of people from different backgrounds and faiths were subjected to genocide in Hitler’s concentration camps and Pol Pot’s killing fields. Sadly, humanity could do nothing but watch what was happening at the time. Today, the same mistake is being repeated in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

“The necessary reaction is not being shown by the world to the genocide network’s policies, which recognize no rules, laws, principles, values or boundaries. Neither global institutions nor the international community are demonstrating the strong resolve needed to prevent massacres today, just as they failed to do so in the past. I believe we must now recognize this reality: As Muslims, we cannot get anywhere by placing our hopes in others. We must be strong, be capable of deterring threats, defend our rights and interests together, and jointly build peace and security in our region. That is why we say there is strength in alliances, and we are working to expand alliances and reduce disagreements both among ourselves and across the Islamic world,” he said.

“The lies and slanders targeting our President in the statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry reflect the cowardly and rotten mentality of the criminals serving in the Israeli government, particularly (Benjamin) Netanyahu,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday in response to the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s post.

The ministry said Netanyahu and his “criminal network” had brought “historic shame” upon the entire Israeli people by committing genocide in Gaza and had displayed expansionism unprecedented in the modern history of the Middle East, making them a primary source of regional and global instability.

“The immunities enjoyed by Netanyahu and his criminal network are disappearing both legally and politically,” the statement said.

The ministry said the efforts of Israeli institutions, which it said operate in a manner similar to “Goebbels’ propaganda machine,” were no longer sufficient and that the international community no longer believed the Netanyahu government’s “lies.”

“Türkiye, under the leadership of our President, has maintained an honest and determined stance against the crimes committed during the Netanyahu era,” the ministry said. “We will continue to defend and voice the truth.”

Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, said in a social media post on Saturday that Israel’s statement was “a stark example of a mindset that resorts to slander and propaganda rather than confronting the facts.”

He said Israel was attempting to “conceal their aggression, the genocide they have committed, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” by “hiding behind the concept of ‘anti-Semitism.’”

Duran said Türkiye’s opposition was directed at Israel’s occupation, oppression, massacres and violations of international law, stressing that Erdoğan would continue defending the Palestinian cause and supporting the people of Gaza and regional stability.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.