EFES-2024 drill for peace support, not targeting any country, says Erdogan
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized during the ongoing EFES-2024 drill that it is not aimed at any specific country but is instead centered on a peace support operation.
“No country is targeted in the Efes-2024 exercise. Our exercise is carried out with a generic scenario based on a peace support operation,” Erdogan asserted.
Erdogan attended the elite observer day of the EFES-2024 drill, which was held at the Doganbey Firing Range in the Seferihisar district of Izmir.
Speaking at the drill, he underscored that the exercise is conducted with a generic scenario focused on peacekeeping efforts. Additionally, he highlighted the utilization of new domestic systems, with 33 such systems being tested for the first time during the drill.
Furthermore, Erdogan drew attention to the intense participation in this year’s EFES-2024 drills, saying: “The number of countries participating in the EFES-2022 drills held 2 years ago was 37, and we are pleased to observe that the interest in the drills has increased at every level this year. I would like to thank everyone who supported the exercise, which has been carried out since April 25 with the participation of a total of 11 thousand military personnel in two phases.”
Türkiye’s commitment to regional security and diplomacy
Erdogan also showcased Türkiye’s burgeoning defense industry, noting that defense exports reached $5.5 billion last year, with 230 product types exported to 185 countries, alongside new contracts valued at $10.24 billion.
He emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to diplomacy, mentioning recent efforts to expand international relations and expressing a desire for continued initiatives in this regard.
“We hold no animosity or prejudice against any country. We have no interest in anyone’s land or sovereign rights,” he added.
Erdogan stresses Türkiye’s anti-terror stance
Regarding regional security, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s stance against the PKK terrorist organization, stating that Türkiye will not permit the establishment of a PKK-led terrorist state in northern Syria and Iraq.
“Türkiye will never allow the (PKK) separatist organization to establish a terrorist state in the north of Syria and Iraq, just beyond its southern borders,” President Erdogan reiterated.
He emphasized Türkiye’s vigilance in monitoring the PKK’s activities and its commitment to safeguarding territorial integrity.
Erdogan also condemned Israel’s recent aggression in Gaza, particularly the attack on a refugee camp in Rafah, “It was the end of humanity, there is no justification for such brutality,” he stated.
He characterized the attack as a gross violation of humanity and decried the ongoing violence in Gaza as genocide, citing the EFES-2024 as a military drill showcasing military prowess involving over 11,000 personnel from 45 nations. The drill not only included the Turkish Armed Forces but also incorporated over 1,500 participants from allied countries.
Furthermore, 47 defense companies participated in the drill.
