Politics
EU urges Greece to investigate reports of migrant pushbacks by police
The European Commission said Thursday that Greece must investigate allegations that its police used masked migrants to forcibly push back other migrants toward the Turkish border, following a report by the BBC.
Commission spokesperson Magnus Brunner told reporters in Brussels that the EU executive was aware of the claims but stressed that examining such allegations falls under the responsibility of the member state concerned.
“It is for member states to investigate these reports, establish all the facts and ensure that appropriate action is taken in case of any violations,” Brunner said, adding that the commission did not have additional information on the specific case.
He underlined that while the management and protection of the EU’s external borders is primarily the responsibility of member states, it must be carried out in line with EU law and fundamental rights obligations.
Brunner also noted that border management operations are supported by Frontex, the bloc’s border agency, and financed through EU instruments, emphasizing that such activities must always respect fundamental rights.
The comments followed a report published on April 14 by the BBC, which said it had uncovered evidence suggesting that Greek police recruited migrants to assist in pushback operations targeting other migrants attempting to cross into Greece.
According to the report, internal police documents indicated that the practice may have taken place with the knowledge of senior officials. Witnesses cited in the report alleged that migrants were subjected to abuse, including beatings, theft and mistreatment, and that such practices may have been ongoing since at least 2020.
Allegations of pushbacks involving Greek authorities and Frontex have been widely reported since 2020, drawing criticism and prompting investigations in Brussels. Previous reports, supported by witness testimonies, video footage and satellite imagery, have documented incidents in which migrant boats in the Aegean Sea were intercepted, damaged or forced back toward Turkish waters.
Despite past inquiries concluding that safeguards to prevent fundamental rights violations were insufficient, allegations of pushbacks have continued to surface.
“Pushback” is a controversial and illegal practice, but Greece has repeatedly engaged in it, according to reports by human rights organizations monitoring migrant flow into Greece that escalated in the past decade.
Many boatloads of migrants attempt to make the dangerous sea crossing to reach the Greek islands from the Turkish coast, hoping to eventually make their way to prosperous European Union countries.
Others attempt to enter Greece by crossing the Maritsa (Meriç) River that runs along the land border between the two countries.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy (MIA) has published a report describing the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara as a critical turning point for the alliance, arguing that NATO must adapt to an increasingly complex security environment shaped by great-power competition, hybrid threats and emerging technologies.
The report, titled “The Ankara Summit, NATO 3.0 Debates and Türkiye,” examines NATO’s evolving security architecture, the concept of “NATO 3.0” and Türkiye’s strategic role within the alliance ahead of the leaders’ summit.
The National Intelligence Academy, a graduate-level institution established under the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in 2023, focuses on intelligence, national security research and postgraduate education.
According to the report released on Friday, the international security landscape has moved beyond the relatively predictable post-Cold War order toward a multipolar environment marked by heightened uncertainty and hybrid competition. It cites intensifying rivalry among major powers, China’s technological and economic rise, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Iran conflict as developments that have fundamentally reshaped global security.
The report argues that security can no longer be defined solely in military terms, saying cyberattacks, disinformation, energy coercion and attacks on critical infrastructure have become strategic instruments of competition. It also emphasizes that societal resilience and what it describes as “cognitive security” have become integral components of national and collective defense.
Using the analytical framework of “NATO 3.0,” the report traces the alliance’s evolution from its Cold War focus on collective defense through the post-Cold War era of crisis management and out-of-area operations to a new phase centered on integrated deterrence and resilience. It notes that the term “NATO 3.0” is not an official NATO classification but an analytical concept reflecting the alliance’s changing strategic priorities.
The report says modern security now extends beyond land, sea and air to include cyberspace, outer space, the electromagnetic spectrum and the cognitive domain. It argues that collective deterrence increasingly depends on an integrated approach spanning defense industries, cyber capabilities, air and missile defense, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure and societal resilience.
It also says NATO’s longstanding debate over burden-sharing has evolved beyond defense spending, focusing instead on which allies develop specific capabilities and assume greater responsibility during crises. As the U.S. shifts more of its strategic attention toward the Indo-Pacific, the report argues that Europe will inevitably shoulder greater responsibility for regional security.
The report describes strategic autonomy as a central element of the NATO 3.0 debate, arguing that stronger national capabilities in defense, technology, energy and critical infrastructure can reinforce the alliance if they remain interoperable with NATO planning.
The academy portrays Türkiye as a leading example of the type of ally NATO will increasingly require. It says the country has expanded its domestic defense capabilities, developed expertise in critical technologies and strengthened its ability to counter hybrid threats, allowing it to contribute greater strategic value to the alliance.
According to the report, Türkiye’s unique contribution lies in its ability to address security challenges on both NATO’s eastern and southern flanks simultaneously. It points to Ankara’s role in Black Sea security and the Montreux Convention alongside its engagement in security issues involving Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.
The report also highlights Türkiye’s defense industry, citing advances in unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, radar technologies, land and naval platforms, command-and-control systems and artificial intelligence-supported decision-making. It says these capabilities strengthen both Türkiye’s national security and NATO’s overall deterrence.
It adds that intelligence-sharing has become an increasingly important element of alliance cooperation, arguing that the MIT’s expanding operational capabilities have enhanced Türkiye’s contribution to NATO intelligence.
Looking ahead to the Ankara summit, the report says the meeting will serve not only as a forum to address current security crises but also as a defining moment for NATO’s institutional and strategic future.
It identifies defense spending, industrial production capacity, U.S.-European burden-sharing, the security priorities of NATO’s eastern and southern flanks, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space security and next-generation technologies as the alliance’s principal agenda items.
The report notes that NATO leaders agreed at last month’s Hague summit to raise the alliance’s defense spending benchmark to 5% of gross domestic product, but argues that the more important question is how effectively those resources are translated into military capabilities.
It also says resilience has become as important as deterrence, arguing that energy infrastructure, communications networks, financial systems, public opinion and societal psychology are now essential components of security. The report calls for NATO to adopt a “comprehensive resilience” approach as a core strategic principle.
For Türkiye, the report says hosting the summit represents more than a diplomatic event. It argues that Ankara is well positioned to help shape NATO’s evolving strategic framework by promoting a 360-degree approach to security, strengthening defense industrial cooperation, enhancing allied coordination against terrorism and contributing its experience in countering disinformation, cyber threats, irregular migration and attacks on critical infrastructure.
The report concludes that NATO’s long-term effectiveness will depend on its ability to convert higher defense spending into tangible military capabilities, redefine trans-Atlantic burden-sharing without weakening deterrence, balance the security priorities of its eastern and southern flanks, and place resilience at the center of collective defense.
Türkiye will mark the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt with nationwide and international commemorative events under the theme “The Will Is Ours, Victory Is Ours,” Communications Director Burhanettin Duran announced Thursday.
Speaking at a meeting with Ankara bureau chiefs of media organizations, Duran outlined the government’s plans for the annual Democracy and National Unity Day commemorations, which will include thousands of events across all 81 provinces and at Turkish diplomatic missions abroad.
Duran said the anniversary would commemorate what Turkish authorities describe as the defeat of the coup attempt through the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the resistance of civilians, the military and security forces.
“We see July 15 as the resistance, heroism and victory of our nation,” Duran said.
He said the slogan “The Will Is Ours, Victory Is Ours” was chosen to emphasize the public’s determination to defend its democratic will and national independence, describing the anniversary as a symbol of Türkiye’s commitment to shaping its own future.
According to Duran, the commemorations will focus on preserving public memory, strengthening social resilience and conveying Türkiye’s account of the events to domestic and international audiences.
The Directorate of Communications has prepared what Duran described as a comprehensive communication strategy that combines digital platforms, traditional media and academic initiatives to mark the anniversary.
As part of the program, “July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day Memorial Tents” will be established in all 81 provinces. The installations, to be located in city squares, public parks and other busy areas, will feature documentary videos, digital displays, brochures, projection systems, QR code applications and interactive information panels.
Visitors, particularly children and young people, will be invited to write messages in memorial books as part of the commemorative activities.
Duran said additional events across the country would include public vigils, ceremonial flag relay runs, concerts, theatrical performances, sporting events and tree-planting campaigns.
The main ceremonies will take place in Ankara and Istanbul.
In the capital, a large public gathering is scheduled at Başkent Nation’s Garden, while Türkiye’s Parliament will host a memorial ceremony accompanied by a digital exhibition and projection mapping display.
In Istanbul, a Quran recitation involving 253 memorizers of the Quran will be held at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in honor of the 253 people killed during the coup attempt.
The city will also host a maritime procession involving 253 boats, a convoy of 400 taxis and synchronized drone and light shows.
Duran said projection mapping displays would illuminate landmark buildings in several cities, while Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul would feature special three-dimensional visual presentations.
A public art installation titled “Silent Witness” will also be unveiled in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, where 253 Turkish flags will symbolize each person killed during the events of July 15.
The directorate has also prepared two books to coincide with the anniversary, while a short film titled “That Night” will combine footage from the attempted coup with images highlighting Türkiye’s achievements over the past decade.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday described Türkiye as one of the alliance’s strongest military powers ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Ankara, saying the country will play a key role in strengthening the alliance’s defense industrial base and implementing commitments made at the alliance’s previous summit.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) at NATO headquarters in Brussels before the July 7-8 Ankara summit, Rutte said Türkiye remains a vital ally with one of NATO’s most capable armed forces and a rapidly expanding defense industry.
“Türkiye is extremely important to NATO,” Rutte said. “It has one of the strongest armies in the alliance. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are very well-equipped and well-trained, and Türkiye has the advantage of a massive defense industry.”
NATO staged its biggest exercise this year in Germany, with some 10,000 personnel from 11 countries. Türkiye, which has the defense body’s second-largest army, dispatched 2,000 personnel for the Steadfast Dart 2026 in February. The exercise aimed to showcase NATO’s ability to deploy rapidly and conduct complex operations, the body said in a statement.
It was the first time that Türkiye sent so many troops to Northern Europe, though the country is a major component of NATO at a time of heightened defense worries in Europe.
Türkiye also hosts critical NATO facilities, including the Allied Land Command, which is located in the western city of Izmir, and the Rapid Deployable Corps, which is based in Istanbul. The capital, Ankara, hosts the Center of Excellence for Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) and the Partnership for Peace Training Center. Istanbul hosts the NATO Maritime Security Center of Excellence (MARSEC COE).
Moreover, Rutte said he hopes the Ankara summit will be remembered as the meeting where allies began implementing the pledges they made at the alliance’s summit in The Hague.
“We made the commitments in The Hague. The Ankara summit should be the implementation summit,” he said.
According to Rutte, defense spending will be one of the three main priorities of the gathering, alongside continued support for Ukraine and advancing what he described as “NATO 3.0,” a vision for a stronger alliance with greater European responsibility for collective defense.
“We need to recruit the men and women who will serve in our armed forces, and we must significantly expand defense industrial production,” Rutte said. “We have to increase this capacity very quickly.”
Explaining his vision of “NATO 3.0,” Rutte said the concept represents a new balance of responsibilities within the alliance, with European allies assuming a greater share of defense spending and operational leadership while the United States maintains its critical military and nuclear role.
“NATO 3.0 means moving beyond a NATO that relied too heavily on the United States,” he said. “The U.S. will remain indispensable through its conventional military capabilities and nuclear deterrence, but Europe will take on greater responsibility.”
He said European allies are expected to assume command of NATO’s three Joint Force Commands in the near future, while Europe and Canada will also finance a greater share of military assistance to Ukraine, even as Washington continues supplying key military equipment.
According to Rutte, a more balanced distribution of responsibilities will strengthen NATO’s deterrence against potential adversaries.
Addressing security challenges facing the alliance, Rutte identified Russia as NATO’s primary long-term threat, citing Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, the main long-term threat we face is Russia,” he said. “We see this clearly in Russia’s irrational war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Rutte argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated a willingness to sustain heavy military losses, saying Russia is accepting roughly 35,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded each month.
“That shows Ukraine is fighting effectively on the battlefield,” he said, while noting the human cost of the conflict for soldiers and their families.
He also warned against underestimating China’s military modernization, noting projections that Beijing could possess around 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
“We should not be naive about China,” Rutte said, adding that Russia is increasingly cooperating with China, Iran and North Korea.
While describing that partnership as a growing strategic concern, Rutte maintained that Russia remains NATO’s principal long-term security challenge.
The Ankara summit is expected to focus on implementing alliance defense commitments, expanding defense production, sustaining military support for Ukraine and advancing NATO’s long-term adaptation to evolving global security threats.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has removed provincial officials in 26 provinces as part of an internal restructuring process, while reaffirming its support for the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, party spokesperson Müslim Sarı said Tuesday.
Speaking after a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Board (MYK) chaired by CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Sarı said the leadership had reviewed the party’s internal functioning since May 21 and taken disciplinary measures to protect its institutional structure.
“Our institutional identity is our red line,” Sarı said, adding that disciplinary procedures and dismissals had been implemented against officials deemed to have undermined the party’s organizational framework.
The decisions affected provincial organizations in 26 provinces, including Ağrı, Aksaray, Amasya, Batman, Bilecik, Bolu, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Hakkari, Iğdır, Kars, Kırıkkale, Manisa, Mardin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Samsun, Sivas and Tunceli, as well as several district branches. In Sinop, only the provincial chair was removed while the rest of the executive board remained in office.
Sarı said disciplinary proceedings seeking expulsion had been initiated against seven provincial chairs, including the heads of the party organizations in Denizli, Muğla, Eskişehir, Sinop, Düzce, Kars and Tunceli.
He also announced that new provincial chairs had been appointed in six provinces, Batman, Çanakkale, Mardin, Niğde, Osmaniye and Tunceli.
“In summary, officials have been removed in 26 provinces. Seven provincial chairs have been referred to the disciplinary board, and new appointments have been made in six provinces,” Sarı said.
Separately, Sarı reiterated the CHP’s support for the parliamentary commission report related to the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, saying the party backed efforts aimed at strengthening national unity and security.
“As the Republican People’s Party, we stand behind the commission’s report,” he stressed. “We support this process for the unity of the country, the security of the state, and national solidarity and brotherhood.”
National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın met with Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad in Ankara on Monday to discuss the Gaza cease-fire, bilateral ties and a range of regional security issues, Turkish security sources said.
The two intelligence chiefs reviewed the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire agreement and agreed to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation to help prevent Israel’s escalating violations of the truce, the sources said.
Kalın reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Palestinians with all available means, as it has done throughout the conflict.
The meeting also covered Türkiye-Egypt bilateral relations and regional developments, including efforts to unify political authorities and military forces in eastern and western Libya under a single administration.
The officials further exchanged views on the latest developments in Somalia and discussed the ongoing conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
The meeting comes as Ankara and Cairo continue to deepen cooperation on regional security following the normalization of diplomatic relations, with Gaza remaining a key focus of coordination between the two countries.
Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications’ Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) warned against fake posts about the upcoming NATO summit that imitate the names and logos of public institutions.
In a statement on its NSosyal account on Wednesday, the DMM said images, documents and content shared on some social media accounts and messaging channels that include the phrase “NATO Summit Security Coordination Center” and claim that an “application portal for priority public institution employees” had been created were entirely fake.
The statement said no such center had been established under any official authority.
“The document and application screen shown in the images and content do not belong to any system prepared by the relevant official authorities. Such fake posts, created by imitating the names and logos of public institutions, are attempts to mislead the public and obtain personal information through cyber fraud,” the DMM said.
It added that legal proceedings had been swiftly launched against those producing and spreading the fake content.
The DMM urged citizens and public employees to remain highly cautious against such manipulation and to follow developments and announcements only through official channels of authorized institutions.
In a separate statement, the DMM also denied claims that all passengers traveling to Ankara by plane, train or bus were being individually subjected to background checks because of the NATO summit.
“The claim that “all plane, train and bus passengers traveling to Ankara due to the NATO summit are being individually subjected to GBT checks” does not reflect the truth,” the statement said, referring to Türkiye’s General Information Gathering background check system.
The DMM said additional security measures had been taken across the capital as part of the NATO summit, but there was no systematic GBT procedure for citizens traveling to the city, as claimed.
It said passengers at airports, train stations or bus terminals were not being stopped and subjected to background checks unless there was a concrete security reason or suspicion.
The center urged the public not to trust manipulative posts that distort security measures to create panic, fear or the perception that freedom of travel has been restricted.
The president of the court kicked İmamoğlu and CHP members out of the courtroom: ‘You cannot act as a clown here’
Ankara summit marks turning point for NATO 3.0, Türkiye’s MIA says
Türkiye’s K-9 disaster unit runs from one wreckage to another
The president of the court kicked İmamoğlu and CHP members out of the courtroom: ‘You cannot act as a clown here’
Ankara summit marks turning point for NATO 3.0, Türkiye’s MIA says
Türkiye’s K-9 disaster unit runs from one wreckage to another
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