Erdogan emphasizes strong naval presence to protect Türkiye’s security

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the importance of a powerful navy to safeguard Türkiye’s security both at home and abroad during a speech Saturday in the coastal city of Mugla. He emphasized that the country’s peace and security rely on the strength and effectiveness of its naval forces.

“We are aware that to live peacefully in our lands, we must have a strong and effective navy both in our Blue Homeland and in distant regions,” Erdogan said, referring to Türkiye’s territorial waters by the term “Blue Homeland.”

Highlighting his administration’s efforts to bolster the defense industry over the past 22 years, Erdogan pointed to plans for two new submarines, the Hizirreis and Muratreis, scheduled to be commissioned in 2025 and 2026, respectively. By 2029, Türkiye intends to have completed its submarine projects, significantly enhancing its maritime capabilities.

The president also outlined Türkiye’s long-term ambition of producing its own submarines through the Milden (National Submarine) Project. He called the initiative the realization of a “138-year-old dream.”

In addition to military advancements, Erdogan touched on the government’s work to restore historical assets, specifically the MV Savarona, a ship originally launched in 1931. After years of neglect and even use as a casino, the ship has now been fully restored and returned to the Turkish people as a symbol of the republic’s 86-year history.

Shifting focus to aviation, Erdogan revealed plans to deploy domestic aircraft on Türkiye’s national aircraft carriers. Among the aircraft to be deployed are the Hurjet, Kizilelma, TB3, and ANKA3, all of which are intended to protect Türkiye’s interests in international waters.

The president also announced the construction of the TF-2000 Air Defense Destroyer at Istanbul Shipyard, designed to provide a layered defense system against air threats from the sea. Erdogan stated that this new destroyer would play a critical role in safeguarding Türkiye’s key naval assets, including the TCG Anadolu and the future national aircraft carrier.

“Our national and indigenous aircraft will protect our rights and interests in overseas impact areas on our national aircraft carrier,” Erdogan said.