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Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened a wide-ranging speech on Turkey’s past and present by pointing to Cyprus, telling an audience of soldiers’ families and veterans that Turkish forces “stopped the bloodshed” there, a remark that quickly drew attention as he framed it as part of a broader story about national struggle and survival.
Speaking at an iftar dinner in Ankara, the Turkish president stitched together centuries of history, from medieval battles to modern political crises, to argue that Turkey has always resisted outside pressure and never retreated from defending its independence.
“In Cyprus we stopped the bloodshed, in this spirit,” he said, presenting the island as one chapter in what he described as a long line of tests the nation has faced and overcome.
He said that despite invasions, wars and attempted occupations over the centuries, “no matter what they did, they could not uproot us from these lands,” insisting that Turkey has consistently stood firm against threats.
Warning of global “traps”
Turning to current geopolitics, Erdogan said Turkey is fully aware of what he called “games being played” and “traps being set,” arguing that global politics is being reshaped and that Ankara is navigating the turbulence successfully.
He pointed to the government’s “Turkey Without Terrorism” initiative, saying that 16 months after its launch it has produced “remarkable progress,” and noted that a parliamentary committee tied to the effort has completed its work.
The president also highlighted advances in Turkey’s defense sector, citing domestically developed drones, missile systems and naval capabilities as proof the country is strengthening its security both at home and abroad.
Regional focus
Erdogan said there have been “positive developments” in Syria and pledged that Turkey will continue acting to safeguard its interests beyond its borders when necessary.
His comments linking history, military strength and modern diplomacy were delivered to an audience made up largely of families of fallen soldiers, a setting that underscored the speech’s central theme: that Turkey’s past conflicts and present policies are part of the same ongoing fight to defend the nation.
