President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, "Despite the occasional secret and open embargoes imposed by our allies, we are consistently improving our defence capabilities."
President Erdoğan joined the Seawolf-II-2024 Exercise conducted by the Turkish Naval Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean via a phone call to Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler. President Erdoğan began his words by extending his heartfelt regards.
President Erdoğan expressed his hope that the exercise will yield auspicious outcomes for the heroic navy and wished all the participating soldiers the best of success.
President Erdoğan expressed his sincere belief that the exercise will further enhance the capabilities of the Turkish Naval Forces and the soldiers' knowledge, coordination, and motivation and stated: "With a glorious history stretching over 2,200 years, our Armed Forces are among the most formidable forces in the world, owing to their discipline, capabilities, valour, and compassion. Throughout its history, our heroic army has been the source of national pride due to its unmatched victories. Our army instills confidence and peace in our nation not only by means of its deterring capabilities but also by virtue of its strong sense of responsibility. As a nation, we are cognizant of the fact that maintaining military strength is imperative if we want to live on our homeland with peace of mind."
President Erdoğan remarked that recent events in the region served as a stark reminder of the critical nature of the motto "strong army, strong Türkiye," adding, "Drawing from this fact, we have dedicated the last 21 years to increasing the deterrence, enhancing the capabilities and equipping our army, the pride of our nation, with cutting-edge defence technology. We place special emphasis on making sure that the personnel and equipment of our Naval Forces are at the best possible level."
President Erdoğan noted that the parade of 100 navy ships in the Bosphorus to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye once again showcased the capabilities of the Naval Forces and continued:
"Together, we have explored the remarkable capabilities that the TCG Anadolu, the world's first UCAV vessel, brings to our navy. In addition to the TCG Anadolu, we are actively working on adding a larger aircraft carrier to our military fleet. KAAN, our fifth-generation aircraft that will have a multiplier effect on our air forces, has successfully completed its second flight recently. Various tests for Bayraktar TB3, Kızılelma and ANKA 3 are ongoing. Despite the occasional secret and open embargoes imposed by our allies, we are consistently improving our defence capabilities. We are engaged in a decisive struggle on almost every front, ranging from unmanned systems to air defence, from armoured land vehicles to electronic warfare systems."
President Erdoğan underlined their unwavering commitment to continue their fight until they achieve their goals, highlighting the importance of the Seawolf Military Exercise, which began on May 7 and will end on May 18, during these turbulent times in the region.
As the President of Türkiye and Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces, President Erdoğan congratulated all the soldiers who participated in the exercise, and he also took a moment to commemorate with mercy the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their homeland.
President Erdoğan also extended his well wishes to the veterans, expressing his hope for their good health, benevolence and longevity, and said, "May you have fair winds, following seas, and safe journeys."