Politics
Turkish govt ally Bahçeli warns war next door may destabilize others
Devlet Bahçeli, chairperson of the government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), had candid remarks regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war and cautioned that Türkiye and other regional countries stand to lose without measures.
Addressing the mayors of his party at an event in Ankara on Saturday evening, Bahçeli said “an uncontrolled weakening or dissolution” in Iran would not be merely a domestic issue of Iran. “It has the potential to generating a belt of instability in the regional countries. What Türkiye faces is not simply a potential crisis on the border. This is an outlook that may directly affect national security, border security and overall regional stability,” he said.
Türkiye has been the target of missiles during the ongoing conflict but no casualties or damage were reported so far after the NATO defense systems intercepted the missiles. Ankara hinted that its patience may run out if the conflict fully spills over into its territory but always championed diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Türkiye holds a leading position in the region as a country with good ties, both with Tehran and Washington.
In 2024, Bahçeli prophesied that Israel’s expansionist policies in the region may turn to Türkiye eventually and proposed a terror-free Türkiye initiative, to get rid of the PKK terrorism that had affected the country for more than four decades. The initiative was a bid to strengthen Turkish-Kurdish unity as Bahçeli said earlier, to form a “home front” against the Israeli aggression. The initiative is still underway and Ankara monitors the full dissolution of the terrorist group, which made a landmark decision to dissolve itself last year. The PKK, which claims to fight for so-called Kurdish self-rule, is associated with similar groups in Syria and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump recently voiced that he favored those “Kurdish” groups to join the fight against Tehran though he later backtracked.
In his speech on Saturday, Bahçeli said the Middle East has long been the home of “conflicts among proxies” but the situation has changed now, creating new risks for every actor in the region. Bahçeli noted that post-World War I status quo established by United Kingdom and partially by France in the region was built on “explicitly drawn borders and security mechanisms relying abroad.”
“Today, the U.S.’ strategic approach that puts Israel on its center attempts to redesign the security in the region. It is the second time that the fate of the Middle East faces an attempt to redesign it with foreign intervention,” he warned.
Bahçeli pointed to the past decade of civil war in neighboring Syria and urged people to learn lessons. “When the central authority is weakened, armed groups, proxy groups, irregular migration, unregistered economy thrive and the country becomes a field feasible for foreign intervention. We should see what is happening in Iran in the same manner,” he said.
Delving into Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon, Bahçeli said Lebanon was almost a scaled-down model of the situation in the greater Middle East. “Looking past the ongoing conflict over Lebanon, we see a history of the Ottoman rule, a period of foreign mandates, a civil war, the 2006 crisis and other situations that demonstrate the loss of internal balance is quickly followed by foreign intervention. The foreign intervention lessens a country’s own might. When you lose the power, armed groups trump the state authority. This is what is unfolding in Lebanon again,” he said.
“At this point, a clear question must be asked: If the Palestinian (territories) has effectively been reduced and fragmented into a limited space, where will the next line of pressure emerge?” he said. “The answer is not difficult to see. Lebanon is increasingly becoming a target. This development represents a serious geopolitical rupture not only for Lebanon but for the entire Eastern Mediterranean.”
Bahçeli emphasized that Lebanon is also one of the key junctions of the Eastern Mediterranean. He described Beirut as more than just a capital, calling it a major gateway where trade, culture and geopolitics have intersected throughout history.
Saying the country and its capital constitute one of the most sensitive links in the region’s balance, Bahçeli argued that the issue of Lebanon can no longer be addressed solely within the narrow framework of current conflicts.
“Bolder and more comprehensive options that would strengthen Lebanon’s state capacity, reinforce its sovereignty and ensure lasting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean must be openly discussed,” he said. “Strengthening Lebanon internally, establishing regional stability mechanisms and, if necessary, evaluating new political and economic cooperation opportunities with neighboring regions is now an urgent need that can no longer be postponed.
“The reality is this: If Lebanon, our maritime neighbor, collapses, it would not be just one country that collapses, a new belt of instability would emerge in the Eastern Mediterranean. If Beirut falls, it would not be only a city that is wounded, the geopolitical balance of the region would be shaken. For this reason, the Lebanon issue is not solely Lebanon’s problem. It is also a strategic matter directly linked to the future of the region and the security of Türkiye,” he noted.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who devoted a substantial amount of his time this legislative term to the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, hailed the stage it has reached and vowed that Türkiye would not allow further separatist agendas.
Kurtulmuş chaired a parliamentary committee on the initiative aimed at the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group. The committee’s work and Kurtulmuş’s meetings with various political parties eventually led to a draft bill that was passed by Parliament earlier this month.
In a speech at an event in Istanbul on Saturday, Kurtulmuş said Türkiye had no room for separatism and discrimination, referring both to the agenda of the PKK, which long sought to set up a so-called “Kurdistan” in the southeast and to far-right groups equating the Kurdish community with the PKK.
Pointing out that terrorism inflicted a heavy toll on Türkiye, both in terms of casualties and economic losses, Kurtulmuş recalled how numerous politicians strove to solve it in the past with little success. Kurtulmuş said former prime ministers and presidents Necmettin Erbakan, Turgut Özal, Süleyman Demirel, and Bülent Ecevit were among them.
“Unfortunately, whenever a step was taken to solve this problem, someone intervened, and this process was ruined through certain assassinations and provocations. Similarly, during our president’s tenure as prime minister in 2013-2014, when a process was carried out that came almost to the point of completion and was etched into collective memory as the ‘Dolmabahçe Accord,’ right at a point where things were going extremely well, that process was disrupted by certain traitors, namely servants of FETÖ,” he said, referring to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), which tried to seize power in 2016.
Expressing that the process restarted under President Erdoğan’s instructions and leadership, Kurtulmuş said: “The process went through an exceptionally long phase, and this month, the Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion was accepted in Parliament with 467 votes.” The law, temporary in nature, offers deferrals in sentencing and prosecution for PKK members not involved in violent crimes and acts of terrorism.
Referring to the vote, he stated that the emergence of such a massive social alliance in Türkiye is a great achievement in itself, noting that it is very rare for people from such different parties to come together and meet at a common point.
Highlighting that the PKK’s will to lay down arms played an important role in reaching this stage, Kurtulmuş said, “The thing found most in the Middle East is weapons. We know that for decades, weapons were sold and supplied in the Middle East like selling bread and cheese in the market. The main issue is creating an environment that will no longer make it possible for any Kurdish youth in this country to pick up a weapon and go to the mountains for whatever reason. Allah willing, we will achieve this.”
“This has never been an issue of a single party or the government; this is Türkiye’s issue, the issue of all parties. If there is to be success, it will be the success of everyone who gives strength, power, and support to it,” Kurtulmuş added.
Regarding the details of the law, Kurtulmuş stated: “Presumably in no conflict resolution in the world has a state so thoroughly protected itself while doing its job. There are three safeguards. It is impossible to skip any of them. That is, as long as the PKK does not lay down its arms while pretending to do so, it is impossible to benefit from the scope of this law.”
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the fresh security agreement forged by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, framing the regional trilateral deal as a positive step toward broader security cooperation.
“Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform in a statement late Sunday.
“It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way,” he wrote, calling it “a big, bold, and important first step.”
The three-way agreement, signed Aug. 7, comes amid a U.S.-Iran war that has extended violence to the region, including Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks.
The three countries will also share a commitment to participating in efforts to resolve the conflict between Iran and the United States.
Under the pact, the three countries plan to establish strategic political and military mechanisms involving their defense and foreign ministers as well as chiefs of general staff or armed forces commanders.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his “kind words of support” following the signing of the trilateral defense pact between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
“Deeply appreciate” Trump’s statement on the signing of the defense agreement in Mecca, Sharif said in a statement on the U.S. social media platform X.
Sharif said the pact, signed on Aug. 7, “will continue to play a constructive role in ensuring the defense of our own countries as well as the entire region.”
Military cooperation is expected to expand gradually, beginning with command-post and field exercises before progressing to joint drills involving land, naval and air forces, air defense assets and unmanned systems.
Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defense partnerships. In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact that also defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Türkiye and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.
Two presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette on Sunday have 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 south of the 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 jurisdictions remain 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, 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, it will cement and clarify Türkiye’s rights across the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean and Marmara Sea.
Alihan Kuriş, the de facto leader of a group known publicly as “Süleymancılar,” was remanded in custody on Sunday, along with 31 others, in an investigation into a criminal gang he is accused of leading.
An investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has culminated in the detention of Kuriş and other senior figures of the group, which originated as a religious movement named after 20th-century Islamic scholar Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, Kuriş’ great-grandfather. Authorities say the investigation is not directed against the religious movement and instead focuses on alleged financial wrongdoing by Kuriş and other figures in the group, which prosecutors have named the “Alihan Kuriş criminal syndicate.”
The detentions last week prompted followers of Kuriş, who is accused by his critics of hijacking the top position in the Süleymancılar community following the allegedly suspicious death of his uncle, to convene in Ankara in his support. The Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) was also quick to support Kuriş and his followers on social media, with fugitive FETÖ members claiming that another “religious movement” was being targeted by the government. FETÖ posed as a religious movement for decades, operating schools and infiltrating key institutions in the country before attempting to seize power in 2016 through a coup attempt.
Following the detentions, police launched raids on buildings owned or occupied by Kuriş and people close to Süleymancılar and discovered a large amount of cash and jewelry at one of Kuriş’ residences. He also faces charges of money laundering, defrauding public institutions and violating tax laws. While searching a location in Istanbul’s Ümraniye district, police discovered documents that were about to be destroyed as a group of Kuriş’ followers attempted to disrupt the proceedings. On Sunday, media outlets reported that 200 kilograms of gold nuggets of unknown origin had been discovered at a location owned by Hilmi Tuna Kuriş, the brother of Alihan Kuriş, who remains on the run.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) marked its 25th anniversary on Friday. In power for more than two decades, the party looks forward to more feats under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
During the celebrations marking the anniversary, the party also rolled out a “vision paper.” The paper summarizes a strategy for growth and development across 10 chapters.
Comprehensive goals were laid out under headings covering a leading country in the global system, a high-tech and high value-added economy, national technology and digital sovereignty, a predictable legal system, a human-centric state, a strong family and prosperous society, women’s role in the “Century of Türkiye,” youth as architects of the future, green transformation, and Türkiye on the threshold of its second quarter-century. Erdoğan had earlier announced similar goals for what he called the “Century of Türkiye” vision, in reference to the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye in 2023.
In the first chapter, the document aims for Türkiye to transcend being merely a regional actor and become a global leader that inspires trust, builds partnerships, and shapes the international order. Key elements include an order-building foreign policy, a resilient security ecosystem, energy security, strategic production and a terror-free region.
Regarding economic growth, the focus centers on high-value-added production across industry, agriculture, and energy. Domestic production in the defense industry has expanded significantly, while agriculture emphasizes food security and farmer welfare. In health care, the target moves toward manufacturing health technologies, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. For energy, goals include expanding renewables, diversifying through nuclear power and small modular reactors, and manufacturing solar, wind, and battery assets domestically.
Digital sovereignty initiatives emphasize artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and technological independence, ensuring technology serves the public good while addressing data protection, digital addiction, and cyberbullying under the Cyber Homeland framework.
In the legal realm, the vision targets the protection of fundamental rights, an independent judiciary, and a libertarian, inclusive constitution that balances individual freedoms with public order.
For governance and urban development, the document details plans for human-centric smart cities, data-driven local administration and expanded social housing, including building 500,000 social units and transforming 150,000 independent units annually across all 81 provinces.
To strengthen society, the 2026–2035 period is designated as the “Decade of Family and Population,” providing economic support for young families, housing access, and work-life balance. Policies for women focus on STEM education, AI literacy, entrepreneurship, flexible work options, and zero tolerance for violence. For youth, the strategy prioritizes support in science, arts, sports, and decision-making roles while combating addiction.
Environmental targets include advancing toward the 2053 net-zero emission goal, treating water security as a component of national security, adapting agriculture to climate change, and expanding public green spaces.
Finally, the strategy integrates a strong economy, robust democracy, inclusive constitution, effective public administration, qualified human resources, green transformation, defense capability, and active diplomacy as mutually reinforcing pillars for the next 25 years.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Friday by highlighting Türkiye’s transformation in defense, infrastructure and public services over the past quarter-century while pledging that the party would not slow its push for further change.
Speaking at celebrations commemorating the party’s foundation on Aug. 14, 2001, Erdoğan said the AK Party had entered its second quarter-century after delivering on 90% of the commitments included in its party programs and election manifestos.
“Let no one expect us to grow tired,” Erdoğan said, stressing that despite what he described as major achievements over the past 25 years, the party’s work was far from finished.
Erdoğan pointed to Türkiye’s expanding domestic defense industry as one of the most significant changes under successive AK Party governments, saying the country had gone from importing even infantry rifles to producing its own warships, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, tanks, missiles and submarines.
He also highlighted investments in the economy, health care, education and transportation, describing them as some of the largest projects undertaken in Türkiye’s history.
Erdoğan said the governments led by his party had used both their electoral mandate and public resources to expand the economy, promote development and strengthen the country.
Recalling the AK Party’s establishment, Erdoğan said the movement was founded under the message “Closed to darkness, open to light,” alongside the pledge that political authority and decision-making belonged to the people.
“Today is a very special and historic day,” he said. “We are marking our 25th anniversary with great pride.”
The president also cited the lifting of restrictions on women wearing headscarves in universities, schools and public institutions, as well as the abolition of a university admissions coefficient system that had disadvantaged vocational school graduates.
Erdoğan pointed to the reopening of Hagia Sophia for Muslim worship in 2020 as another pledge fulfilled during the party’s time in government. The landmark had operated as a museum for decades before being redesignated as a mosque.
Turning to Türkiye’s political system, Erdoğan said the presidential system of government had addressed what he described as the country’s long-standing problem of instability in governance. Türkiye formally transitioned from a parliamentary system to an executive presidency in 2018 following a 2017 constitutional referendum.
Erdoğan also thanked the AK Party’s partners in the People’s Alliance, which he said was forged during the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, for continuing to work together for Türkiye’s future and security.
He separately thanked Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli for sending flowers to mark the anniversary and expressed appreciation to other political party leaders who conveyed their congratulations by telephone or message.
The AK Party was founded under Erdoğan’s leadership on Aug. 14, 2001, and first came to power after winning the November 2002 general elections. It has since remained the dominant force in Turkish politics, with Erdoğan serving first as prime minister and later as president.
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