“It is an obligation, rather than a choice, for Turkey as a country surrounded by three seas to have a powerful naval force. Therefore, we attach special importance to constantly developing our naval forces in terms of both equipment and staff, and maintaining its readiness to make the highest-level contribution to the defense of the homeland,” Erdoğan said.

Stating that the Blue Homeland 2022 Exercise had been continuing since April 11 both to complete the training for operation preparations and to test the efficiency of Turkey’s domestic and national weapon systems, Erdoğan said: “Thanks be to Allah, our exercise, which the elements of our Naval Forces in the Black Sea, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean have been carrying out in coordination with other force commands and state institutions, has been completed successfully. The vessels, planes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and special task staff have duly fulfilled their duties and shown that they always stand ready for operations.”

“With our humanitarian rescue and relief operations, we have won the appreciation of the world”

Underscoring that it was an obligation, rather than a choice, for Türkiye as a country surrounded by three seas to have a powerful naval force, Erdoğan said: “Therefore, we attach special importance to constantly developing our naval forces in terms of both equipment and staff, and maintaining its readiness to make the highest-level contribution to the defense of the homeland. We will determinedly maintain our works until our military has the most powerful naval forces, together with the new vessels, submarines we have built and the weapon systems we have developed for our vessels, of its region and the world.”

Erdoğan continued as follows: “Besides defending the homeland, our army, with all its elements, is a military power which carries out the world’s most comprehensive humanitarian relief operations in many places. While countries that consider themselves to be developed, modern and civilized have left refugees to death in seas, moreover attempted to kill them on purpose by sinking their boats, we, with our naval forces and coast guards, have saved hundreds of thousands of lives from getting lost in dark waters. With the humanitarian rescue and relief operations we have carried out in areas of crisis, from Ukraine to Libya and from Africa to the Middle East, we have won the appreciation of the world.

“Our gallant soldiers have been conducting a comprehensive operation against the terrorist elements in the north of Iraq. On this occasion, I wish Allah’s mercy upon all our martyrs, especially upon our soldiers who have died a martyr’s death during Operation Claw-Lock,” Erdoğan noted. (ILKHA)