President Erdogan speaks at rally in Sakarya
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a rally organized by the AK Party at 15 July Democracy Square in Sakarya province
Turkish President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a rally organized by his party at 15 July Democracy Square in Sakarya province on Feb. 24.
He spoke about many issues, including domestic developments in his country, the defense industry and Israel’s occupation of Gaza.
Speaking about Türkiye’s breakthroughs in the defense industry, Erdogan said, “Having KAAN fighter jet, TCG Anadolu ship, Akinci, Kızılelma, ANKA, Atak, storm howitzers, Altay tank, various missile systems is a matter of survival for us.”
Highlighting the significance of their investments in the defense sector over the past 21 years, Erdogan emphasized that these efforts are yielding significant results in terms of both security enhancements and increased exports. He underscored that Türkiye has now evolved into a nation capable of fulfilling not only its own defense requirements but also those of friendly and brotherly nations.
Erdogan added that last year, Türkiye exported 230 different types of products to 185 countries, achieving a record export value of $5.5 billion. He emphasized that Sakarya has emerged as one of the leading cities in this endeavor.
He emphasized that while other countries may view these efforts as preferences, for Türkiye, it is imperative to excel in every domain. “Without our own strength and capabilities, neither international law nor our alliances, nor even the United Nations, whose impotence is acknowledged by all, can shield us from our adversaries. Our protection hinges solely on our own resilience and resources. Otherwise, our adversaries will not even let us breathe in this region.”
President Erdogan lamented that since Oct. 7, nearly 30,000 innocent Palestinians, predominantly comprising children, women, and civilians, have tragically lost their lives in Gaza, with over 70,000 civilians sustaining injuries. He criticized the lack of response from the U.N. regarding the ongoing attacks in Gaza.
Erdogan criticized the U.N. and Western powers for their inaction regarding Israel’s attacks on Gaza, stating, “Neither the Western powers nor the United Nations Security Council have made any useful effort to prevent the Israeli atrocities. For 140 days, they have only watched the crimes against humanity committed by Israel. So much so that the U.N. Security Council does not even make an urgent cease-fire call to Israel.”
Stating Türkiye’s goal of becoming a regional and global power, Erdogan underscored that this ambition is built upon the foundation of infrastructure developments and services implemented across the country over the past 21 years. He highlighted that every city and every corner of the nation has benefitted from these investments.
Source: Newsroom
