Politics
Türkiye highlights EastMed peace with int’l drills
The Eastern Mediterranean 2025 Invitation Exercise held its Distinguished Observer Day on Tuesday off the coast of the Mediterranean Turkish province of Antalya. Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, who attended the exercise, told reporters that the event was a confirmation of Türkiye’s power to protect its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean with the efforts of elite personnel of Naval Forces Command. “The Turkish naval forces safeguard peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
Tatlıoğlu joined representatives of 19 observer countries aboard the TCG Kemalreis frigate. The exercise brought together troops from Azerbaijan, the United States and Pakistan.
Ships, submarines and air assets from the Turkish Naval Forces Command, along with elite Underwater Offense (SAT) and Underwater Defense (SAS) teams, took part in the exercise, as did five helicopters from the Land Forces Command, 44 F-16s from the Air Forces Command and four coast guard boats from the Coast Guard Command.
As part of the drill, an amphibious assault was carried out at Sarısu Beach in Antalya. In line with the scenario, three landing crafts, four armored amphibious assault vehicles and five boats launched from the well deck of the TCG Sancaktar landing ship to rescue hostages being held on the beach.
At the same time, other amphibious marine units aboard the ship deployed to Sarısu Beach by military helicopter and secured the shoreline.
Units that reached the shore aboard boats, including an armored personnel carrier, neutralized an improvised explosive device and rescued the hostages. A wounded service member, as required by the scenario, was airlifted by helicopter to the TCG Sancaktar.
Turkish and Azerbaijani military units that landed on the TCG Sancaktar unfurled their national flags and saluted Adm. Tatlıoğlu.
As part of the exercise, material was transferred to the TCG Kemalreis from the TCG Heybeliada and TCG Büyükada ships using a mailbag line.
At the end of the event, participating units conducted a ceremonial pass in review.
Adm. Tatlıoğlu said the exercise, held between Nov. 22 and Dec.3, included 30 ships, 67 aircraft, underwater attack and defense teams, CBRN units and an amphibious marine battalion.
He said the drill was successfully carried out with the participation of eight ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group and Standing Mine Countermeasures Group, as well as 93 participants from 19 countries, totaling 11,000 personnel.
He said the exercise was directed by a 103-person control center and included training for crisis response operations, operations in multiple threat environments and humanitarian assistance missions. “During the exercise, unmanned aerial vehicles and armored amphibious assault vehicles were successfully employed in amphibious operations; swarm-attack training was conducted against opposing forces using kamikaze unmanned surface vessels; and procedures for joint operations involving UAVs, unmanned surface vessels and submarines were tested,” he said.
Tatlıoğlu stressed that the Eastern Mediterranean is a critical region where the world’s first maritime civilizations emerged and where three continents meet.
“Thanks to its location, the Eastern Mediterranean has always held strategic importance in areas such as security, energy routes and transportation. Establishing a secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean is a national imperative for our country’s future. For this reason, ensuring that the region is protected from the negative effects of both maritime disputes and land-based conflicts is among our most important duties,” he said.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Ömer Çelik on Tuesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing his government of fueling instability and conflict across the region.
“The Netanyahu ‘genocide network’ means nothing but more chaos and massacres for the entire region,” Çelik stressed in a statement on social media.
Çelik said Netanyahu has increasingly targeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as he faces mounting pressure in Israeli domestic politics, arguing that the attacks stem from Erdoğan’s vocal opposition to Israel’s actions in the region.
He said Erdoğan’s stance represents what he described as an “alliance of humanity” against Israeli policies and called for those responsible for violations to be held accountable under international law.
Çelik also linked Israel’s military actions in Gaza with its policies and operations elsewhere in the region, including the occupied West Bank, Iran, Lebanon and Syria, describing them as parts of the same agenda.
Referring to recent developments in Syria, Çelik accused Israel of targeting the country whenever the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa takes steps aimed at strengthening Syria’s territorial and political unity.
“The Netanyahu network’s latest targeting of Syria has once again shown that Israeli policies are the greatest enemy of the peace and stability of the peoples of the region,” Çelik said.
He urged the international community to respond collectively to Israel’s actions in Syria and elsewhere in the region.
“Standing against the Netanyahu network means defending the dignity of all humanity,” Çelik said.
Earlier Sunday, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement holding Israel responsible for obstructing efforts to establish peace in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel has continued its genocide in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 174,000, most of them women and children. The offensive has also caused widespread destruction, damaging about 90% of the territory’s infrastructure.
Since Monday, the Israeli army has also continued earthmoving operations and work to reopen an old dirt road north of Wadi al-Raqad from the direction of Mariya village, using a bulldozer accompanied by a tank and a pickup truck, SANA said.
Southern Syria has witnessed recurring Israeli incursions and attacks for months, including raids, searches and arrests.
Türkiye on Wednesday marked World Humanitarian Day by stressing the need to protect United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers and ensure the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of aid to people in need, with officials drawing particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a statement marking Aug. 19, which was designated World Humanitarian Day by the U.N. General Assembly in 2008, the Foreign Ministry underscored the importance of safeguarding humanitarian personnel working in conflict zones.
The ministry said the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, at a time when a record number of humanitarian workers have been killed while carrying out their duties, demonstrates the critical importance of the principles represented by World Humanitarian Day, including the responsibility to save lives and protect civilians and aid workers.
“On the occasion of Aug. 19 World Humanitarian Day, we commemorate with gratitude U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers who lost their lives after being targeted while carrying out their duties,” the ministry noted.
Türkiye will continue working to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza and other parts of the world in line with its “people-centered foreign policy,” it added.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also marked the day, saying the international community was going through a period in which the “global conscience” was being severely tested.
Duran pointed to Gaza, where tens of thousands of people, many of them women and children, have been killed and access to basic necessities remains severely restricted, while humanitarian workers have also been targeted.
“Wherever they may be in the world, we will continue to stand with those facing oppression and extend a helping hand to those in need,” Duran said.
He also thanked humanitarian workers who put human life above all else and expressed hope for a world where humanitarian assistance is not obstructed, civilians are protected and justice is upheld.
Through its state and non-state organizations and institutions Türkiye has been a leading international donor of humanitarian assistance. Turkish assistance has been delivered to across five continents through operations coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The assistance, including providing food, shelter, medical supplies, financial assistance and search and rescue equipment to regions affected by wars and natural disasters, has reached to more than 85 countries and communities worldwide.
Among these operations, Gaza has been the largest recipient of Turkish international humanitarian assistance, where AFAD has coordinated the delivery of 109,332 tons of aid through 14 aircraft and 21 ships following Israeli attacks on the enclave.
In addition, AFAD dispatched 25 “Kindness Trains” carrying 11,739 tons of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, alongside six cargo flights; in Sudan, six ships delivered 10,206 tons of aid and 30,000 tents, while Pakistan received 9,079 tons of humanitarian assistance. Additional shipments included 3,000 tons of aid to Somalia and 730 tons to Lebanon.
Nearly 15,000 humanitarian aid trucks have also crossed into Syria, making it one of Türkiye’s largest long-term relief operations.
More recent disaster response missions have included 30 tons of humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country in June. The shipment, transported aboard two military cargo aircraft, included 275 tents and 7 tons of medical supplies. Türkiye also supported Spain after severe flooding by sending 250 large-capacity waste containers and two street-cleaning vehicles to assist recovery efforts.
Alongside AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and other Turkish humanitarian organizations have expanded Türkiye’s global relief efforts. Kızılay said it reached 32.9 million people worldwide in 2025, including 11.2 million people abroad, delivering more than 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid and over 10 million hot meals in Gaza while continuing operations in Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger and Uganda.
During Ramadan 2026, Kızılay carried out humanitarian operations in 21 countries, providing iftar and sahur meals, food packages and emergency relief. In Gaza alone, it served 60,000 people daily through soup kitchens, while its 21st “Ship of Goodness” delivered aid to Egypt’s al-Arish Port for onward transport into the enclave. The organization also distributed assistance in Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation announced Ramadan aid programs spanning 66 and 86 countries.
Kızılay also dispatched 48 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran in April after receiving a request from the Iranian Red Crescent. The four-truck convoy carried shelter materials, hygiene kits and trauma supplies for civilians affected by ongoing attacks, with the organization saying further assistance would continue in line with humanitarian needs.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to humanitarian aid worldwide, pledging to continue standing with people in need, particularly in Gaza, as more than 300 million people struggle without access to basic necessities.
Marking World Humanitarian Day in a post on X, Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue setting an example on an issue that transcends politics, drawing strength from its history and deeply rooted civilizational values.
He said Türkiye remains the world’s leading provider of humanitarian assistance relative to its national income.
Erdoğan pointed to the plight of more than 300 million people deprived of their most basic needs and struggling to survive under difficult conditions, saying the scale of suffering presents a reality that calls on the entire international community to shoulder responsibility.
He stressed that coming to the aid of the oppressed, orphans, vulnerable and needy, and standing by those who have no one else, is a responsibility rooted in Türkiye’s religious and humanitarian values.
Erdoğan pledged that Türkiye would continue extending its “hand of compassion” wherever people are in need.
He added that Türkiye would continue supporting those in need across many parts of the world, particularly in Gaza, while offering hope to people facing oppression and hardship.
Through its state and non-state organizations and institutions Türkiye has been a leading international donor of humanitarian assistance. Turkish assistance has been delivered to across five continents through operations coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The assistance, including providing food, shelter, medical supplies, financial assistance and search and rescue equipment to regions affected by wars and natural disasters, has reached to more than 85 countries and communities worldwide.
Among these operations, Gaza has been the largest recipient of Turkish international humanitarian assistance, where AFAD has coordinated the delivery of 109,332 tons of aid through 14 aircraft and 21 ships following Israeli attacks on the enclave.
In addition, AFAD dispatched 25 “Kindness Trains” carrying 11,739 tons of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, alongside six cargo flights; in Sudan, six ships delivered 10,206 tons of aid and 30,000 tents, while Pakistan received 9,079 tons of humanitarian assistance. Additional shipments included 3,000 tons of aid to Somalia and 730 tons to Lebanon.
Nearly 15,000 humanitarian aid trucks have also crossed into Syria, making it one of Türkiye’s largest long-term relief operations.
More recent disaster response missions have included 30 tons of humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country in June. The shipment, transported aboard two military cargo aircraft, included 275 tents and 7 tons of medical supplies. Türkiye also supported Spain after severe flooding by sending 250 large-capacity waste containers and two street-cleaning vehicles to assist recovery efforts.
Alongside AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and other Turkish humanitarian organizations have expanded Türkiye’s global relief efforts. Kızılay said it reached 32.9 million people worldwide in 2025, including 11.2 million people abroad, delivering more than 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid and over 10 million hot meals in Gaza while continuing operations in Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger and Uganda.
Türkiye on Wednesday rejected any legal implications from Greece’s newly announced renewable energy spatial plan in the Aegean Sea, stressing that unilateral initiatives cannot alter Ankara’s longstanding legal position on disputes between the two neighbors.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said Greece’s “Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources,” announced Wednesday and covering the Aegean Sea, would have no legal consequences for Türkiye regarding the interconnected disputes between Ankara and Athens.
He said this also applied to geographical formations whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece under international treaties.
“These and similar initiatives will not affect Türkiye’s legal position regarding Aegean issues,” Keçeli said.
The spokesperson reiterated Ankara’s position that unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and Mediterranean, noting that international maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states.
Keçeli stressed that Türkiye, as one of the two coastal states of the Aegean, remains ready to cooperate with Greece.
He also reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to resolving outstanding disputes through international law, equity and good-neighborly relations under the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighbourliness signed on Dec. 7, 2023.
Türkiye’s communications director Burhanettin Duran said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats and accusations against Türkiye and Syria reflect his government’s growing international isolation and domestic political concerns, pledging Ankara would continue opposing policies that threaten regional stability.
Responding to questions from Anadolu Agency (AA) about Netanyahu’s recent remarks targeting Türkiye, Duran said the Israeli leader was attempting to portray regional countries as threats to divert attention from criticism of his government’s policies.
“The threats and lies Netanyahu voiced against Türkiye and Syria in an interview are a new reflection of the Israeli prime minister’s growing international isolation, political fears and delusions,” Duran noted.
He said Netanyahu’s efforts to create what he called “imaginary threats and enemies” no longer had a significant impact on international public opinion, arguing that opposition to Israel’s policies was increasing.
Duran stressed Netanyahu was using hostility toward Türkiye as a political “lifeline” amid domestic concerns and approaching elections, while competing with more radical political factions in Israel.
He accused Netanyahu’s government of pursuing aggressive policies stretching from Gaza to Syria and Lebanon and of tolerating settler violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The problem is not that people do not sufficiently understand Israeli policies, but that more and more people understand and reject them,” Duran said, adding that accusations against regional countries and large-scale public relations campaigns were therefore producing limited results.
Asked whether Netanyahu’s rhetoric could signal an expansion of Israeli military action toward Türkiye, he noted regional countries and the international community were increasingly opposing what Ankara sees as an Israeli strategy that fuels wider conflict.
“The entire region is coming together against a strategic destabilizing actor,” he said.
Duran argued that the Netanyahu government had largely abandoned diplomacy and dialogue, saying its approach increasingly equated security with continued military action rather than regional stability.
Türkiye’s opposition to those policies, he underlined, stems not from Ankara posing a threat to Israel but from Türkiye’s regional influence and its stance against actions that it believes undermine security and stability.
Duran also pointed to criticism of Netanyahu within Israel, saying opposition figures had described his anti-Türkiye rhetoric as irresponsible and damaging.
He described Türkiye as an experienced regional power and NATO member that has strengthened both its diplomatic influence and defense capabilities.
The Israeli government should instead pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and refrain from further destabilizing actions, Duran said.
Asked how Ankara would respond to Israel’s policies, Duran said Türkiye would continue supporting countries pursuing peaceful policies in the region, particularly Syria.
“We are a cautious, coolheaded and powerful country,” he said, adding that Türkiye had the ability to protect its national security while avoiding what he described as attempts to drag the region into further confrontation.
“Türkiye will never allow anyone to disturb the peace of our nation and our friends,” he emphasized.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Turkish Cypriots and their political cause as Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed an additional protocol Thursday on a fiber-optic infrastructure project aimed at accelerating the island’s digital transformation.
Yılmaz met TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and representatives of the coalition government at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations, ongoing development projects and cooperation in energy and digital infrastructure.
Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Yılmaz reiterated Türkiye’s long-standing position on Cyprus, saying Ankara would continue to stand by Turkish Cypriots.
“Türkiye, as the motherland and guarantor, will always stand with the Turkish Cypriot people in line with its historic responsibility on the Cyprus issue, which is our national cause,” Yılmaz said. “It will continue to defend the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots on every platform and mobilize all its resources to ensure their prosperity and peace.”
Yılmaz also emphasized Türkiye would continue supporting projects designed to improve living standards in the TRNC under the 2026 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement.
“These projects serve to increase the welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people, enable young people to look to the future with greater confidence and help the TRNC reach better days,” Yılmaz noted.
He pointed to a memorandum of understanding signed on July 10 on supplying natural gas to the TRNC as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation in areas including energy, connectivity, digitalization, education, transportation and health.
Yılmaz said Türkiye and the TRNC would continue working together despite what Ankara describes as the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
“As long as we act in unity of mind and heart, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome and no obstacle we cannot surmount,” he said. “Although our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters are being subjected to unjust isolation, we will continue working together for the development of the TRNC.”
A major focus of Thursday’s talks was the fiber-optic project, which Yılmaz described as strategically important for the TRNC’s digital future.
He said concerns had previously been raised over some provisions of the project’s implementation protocol and that the two sides had worked on revisions addressing the concerns of Turkish Cypriot institutions. Yılmaz and Üstel signed an additional protocol clarifying those provisions and strengthening the framework for implementation.
“The fiber project is a strategic development initiative that will reinforce the TRNC’s digital sovereignty, increase its economic strength and strengthen its connections with the world,” Yılmaz stressed.
The infrastructure is expected to improve service quality and lower costs for residents and businesses while expanding access to digital technologies. The project would also help Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs reach global markets and allow public services to be delivered more efficiently and securely, he remarked.
Yılmaz underlined that Ankara viewed digital connectivity as another way to counter the isolation faced by Turkish Cypriots.
“We are strengthening the TRNC’s ties with the world through the opportunities offered by the most advanced technologies,” he stated.
Üstel, for his part, said relations between Türkiye and the TRNC were rooted in historical ties, a common struggle and a shared vision for the future.
He noted energy and digital infrastructure would be among the main pillars of a new phase in bilateral relations.
“The fiber-optic infrastructure investment whose additional protocol we signed today is not merely a high-speed internet project for us,” Üstel said. “It is a strategic investment that will form the basic infrastructure of our country’s digital transformation.”
The prime minister said the project would affect sectors ranging from public administration and education to health care, tourism, trade and finance.
The infrastructure would strengthen the government’s capacity to produce, collect and analyze data while improving digital security and facilitating faster decision-making based on reliable information, he noted.
Üstel added that the project would provide the foundation for a stronger e-government system and greater digital integration among public institutions.
“This transformation will also be one of the fundamental steps in our vision of becoming an information technology island,” he said. “With the additional protocol signed today, we are effectively launching this important transformation.”
The fiber project was launched between Türkiye and the TRNC on July 11, 2025. Yılmaz and Üstel said the additional protocol would move implementation forward as the two sides seek to expand economic integration and digital connectivity.
Üstel also thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Ankara’s continued support, saying political stability and close cooperation between the two governments had helped turn major infrastructure projects into concrete initiatives.
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