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.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Syria on Sunday for a trilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan held talks in Damascus with President al-Sharaa and President Zelenskyy.

No further details of the meetings were immediately available.

Foreign Ministry sources said Fidan would discuss bilateral issues and regional matters with Syrian officials. The talks will also focus on bilateral projects for rebuilding postwar Syria and supporting Syria’s capacity-building efforts, sources said.

Another issue on the table will be the assessment of the state of the integration of the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG, in the framework of the Jan. 17 and 29 deals Damascus agreed upon with the group after a string of offensives. Security of Syria will also be discussed.

Sources said Fidan and Syrian officials will separately discuss the impact of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war on Syria, as well as the situation in Syria’s neighbor, Lebanon, which suffered from Israel’s attacks after the war broke out in February.

Earlier this month, al-Sharaa told an event at Chatham House in London that they were working to keep Syria out of the ongoing regional war. He warned that Syria could still become a target amid escalating tensions. “Could Syria be targeted? It’s possible, but we are trying not to initiate hostility with anyone, and we are trying to keep Syria away from any battlefield,” he said.

He warned that the current regional climate is driven by heightened emotions and unpredictable decision-making. “Everything is possible right now, because it is not wise judgment that is controlling matters today. The atmosphere is charged with anger, reactions and random policies,” he added.

The Syrian president noted that such dynamics are affecting multiple countries, including Gulf states that had previously remained outside the conflict but have since been targeted. He said Syria is seeking to take the safest course for its people and is carefully weighing its options to avoid being drawn into the conflict. “We are trying to choose the safest situation for our people and to measure things carefully so that we do not reach a point where we are targeted and forced to respond,” he said.

Zelenskyy was in Türkiye on Saturday, where he met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Turkish-Syrian relations, frozen during the civil war, took a new turn after forces led by al-Sharaa led a revolution in December 2024 to overthrow the oppressive regime of Bashar Assad, a close ally of Russia. Within one year, Ankara-Damascus ties gained an unprecedented momentum, with deals serving the interests of both countries.

Sources said Türkiye both helped Syria to heal the wounds of the civil war and exerted efforts for new cooperation opportunities, aiding Syria’s lasting stability and security.

Fidan was among the first Turkish officials to visit Syria after the Baathist regime collapsed. His last visit was on Dec. 22, 2025. During that visit, Fidan was accompanied by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) director Ibrahim Kalın.

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The General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament will convene this week for two critical decisions: extending maternity leaves and banning social media for children.

A bill before the assembly increases maternity leave from 16 weeks to 24 weeks.

Personnel whose maternity leave has expired as of the date the regulation goes into effect, but who have not yet completed 24 weeks since the date of the birth, may be granted an additional eight weeks of maternity leave upon request.

Additionally, the duration of paid leave granted to an employee upon their spouse giving birth will be increased from five days to 10 days.

Civil servants who become foster parents to one or more children will be granted 10 days of leave upon request following the date the child is placed with them.

Protective and preventive measures will be implemented to ensure children are cared for and supported by their families or relatives without being taken into institutional care. In cases of need, social and economic support will be provided, taking regional conditions into account. Women and children deemed to have insufficient income will be provided with a net allowance, without any deductions.

According to another bill before Parliament, social network providers will be prohibited from offering services to children under the age of 15. They will be obligated to take necessary measures, including age verification, to ensure this service is not provided. Gaming platforms will not be permitted to offer games that have not been properly rated according to established procedures.

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Ahmet Torun, father of 16-year-old Tuana Torun, who was recently killed in a car crash, said the family faced political pressure to remain silent. He said his daughter’s death was suspicious. Torun was the victim in a sexual harassment case, and Hasbi Dede, mayor for the northern town of Görele for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested in February as the prime suspect. The girl died days after a March 28 accident where a car hit her as she was crossing the street in Görele. Dede, who was released earlier with judicial control, had denied allegations that he had connections to the driver.

The father claimed that they faced pressure after filing a complaint against Dede over sexual harassment. “After we submitted our complaint, people we believe to be relatives or acquaintances of the defendant contacted the CHP’s Giresun MP, Elvan Işık Gezmiş. She then became involved in the process. She asked us to withdraw our complaint, but we did not accept this. From the very beginning, we never considered taking a step back.”

He said that the family only wanted “justice” and was not seeking any compensation. He highlighted that they faced political pressure and witnessed efforts to cover up the case. The father complained that CHP’s lawmakers did not raise their voice about the case.

He also claimed that her daughter and the family faced threats on social media. “No political power or position should stand in the way of justice. We only want those responsible to receive the punishment they deserve,” he stated.

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Nineteen suspects were detained on Monday in operations against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). Authorities said the suspects were linked to the group’s secret network in the military.

Operations were part of an investigation by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in the central province of Konya. Suspects were apprehended in operations in Konya and 12 other provinces. Eight other suspects remain at large.

FETÖ thrived thanks to its widespread infiltration into key public institutions for decades. The terrorist group’s members managed to disguise themselves through secretive communication methods and by conspiring against those who detected their infiltration, through blackmail, sham trials organized by prosecutors linked to the group and other methods. Once he believed he had a sizable number of military infiltrators, the group’s leader, Fetullah Gülen, ordered them to stage another coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The coup attempt, this time carried out by military infiltrators of the group, spectacularly failed due to an unprecedented public resistance. Gülen died in 2024 before his expected extradition from the U.S., where he lived for years. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, Türkiye expanded its crackdown on the group.

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The Directorate of Communication’s Center for Combating Disinformation rejected claims that its air defense systems shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet and that it is supplying Iran with advanced anti-aircraft and UAV missiles.

In a statement on Saturday, the center said allegations on some social media accounts, claiming that Türkiye supplied Iran with advanced anti-aircraft and UAV missiles, and that a reportedly downed U.S. F-15 fighter jet was struck by a Turkish-made shoulder-fired air defense system, are unfounded.

“Such baseless allegations, whose origin can be inferred, constitute deliberate psychological warfare and black propaganda aimed at undermining Türkiye’s constructive role in regional crises, as well as its diplomacy and peace-oriented efforts.

Türkiye maintains a principled stance focused on preserving peace and stability across all processes in the region. These perception management operations, targeting Türkiye’s globally recognized diplomatic achievements, seek to mislead international public opinion. No credence should be given to such malicious disinformation campaigns intended to manipulate the public and disrupt the delicate balance in the region. It is of utmost importance to exercise caution against speculative claims originating from non-official sources,” the Center said in a statement.

As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war rages, Türkiye fights its own war against disinformation. The center last week rejected claims that Türkiye would side with Iran in the war and make an incursion into Lebanon to that extent.

Türkiye has been neutral in the U.S.-Israel-Iran war despite having close ties with the U.S. and Iran. Instead, it preferred a role as mediator to end the conflict that threatens a lingering instability in the region. On March 29, Pakistan hosted talks with Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the conflict in Iran, with early discussions centered on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged in an intense phone diplomacy over the past weeks to end the conflict. As Foreign Ministry sources announced, he held discussions with a wide range of regional and international officials to evaluate efforts to secure a cease-fire.

Positioned at the intersection of Europe and Asia and at the heart of a volatile Middle East, Türkiye faces significant challenges in preserving neutrality. Despite this, the government continues to pursue what it describes as a “peace diplomacy” approach, aiming to engage all parties and promote de-escalation without becoming directly involved in the conflict.

Iran’s military said on Sunday that it destroyed three U.S. aircraft involved in a search operation for a crew member of a downed American fighter jet.

Iran and the U.S. had been racing since Friday to locate a second crew member of an F-15E before U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the officer had been recovered in a search and rescue operation.

“The enemy’s intruding aircraft in southern Isfahan, including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport aircraft, were struck and are now burning,” the military’s central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said.

It added that the rescue operation had “failed.”

State media shared images of charred wreckage scattered across a desert area, with smoke still emanating from the site.

Iranian media reported that strikes during the rescue operation killed five people in southwestern Iran, though it was not immediately clear whether they were civilians or military personnel.

Since Friday, Iranian media have also shared footage showing local residents, some carrying flags and rifles, searching for the pilot after authorities announced bounties for information.

Early on Sunday, Trump said the second crew member was “SAFE and SOUND” following the operation.

Türkiye itself faces the spillover of the conflict. A ballistic missile was intercepted by NATO defense system in Türkiye on March 30, the fourth since the war broke out on Feb. 28. Iran has denied firing the missiles while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with Fidan last Tuesday and warned of “repeated false-flag operations aimed at undermining regional ties.”

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