Erdoğan: Türkiye Will Not Tolerate Maritime Threats in Eastern Mediterranean

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Türkiye would not tolerate coercion, piracy or other provocations threatening its maritime interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying Ankara was closely monitoring risks to its Blue Homeland, a term used in Türkiye to refer to Türkiye’s maritime borders, and to Turkish Cypriots.

In a New Year’s message released by the Presidency, Erdoğan said Türkiye was alert to rising tensions in the region and would defend its rights and interests. “We will never tolerate coercion, piracy or banditry in our seas,” he said.

Erdoğan used the address to reflect on domestic and foreign policy developments over the past year, paying tribute to Turkish security forces killed in operations against terrorism and organized crime and thanking veterans for their service.

Despite the growing climate of war and crisis in the region, Erdoğan said Türkiye was continuing its path with confidence. He said the government’s economic program was yielding results, citing easing inflation, strengthening central bank reserves and gains in production, investment, employment and exports.

He added that Türkiye had broken records in sectors including tourism and the defense industry, and said a large-scale social housing project of 500,000 units would help low-income citizens and ease housing and rental pressures.

Earthquake reconstruction priority

Erdoğan said rebuilding areas devastated by the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes remained the government’s top priority. He noted that keys to the 455,000th housing unit had been handed over to beneficiaries in Hatay on December 27, and said infrastructure, public spaces and cultural sites in affected cities were being restored.

He thanked workers, institutions and donors involved in reconstruction and said the government would continue to deliver on its promises.

On regional affairs, Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to support communities beyond its borders, pointing to its policies in Syria and Gaza.

He said recovery in Syria had accelerated following the country’s December 2024 revolution, adding that political stability was advancing and voluntary returns were increasing. According to Erdoğan, around 600,000 Syrians had returned from Türkiye to Syria over the past year.

Türkiye would continue to support Syria’s new administration to ensure security and stability without discrimination based on ethnicity or sect, he said.

On Gaza, Erdoğan said Türkiye would not remain silent until those responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians were held accountable. He said a ceasefire reached in October was holding despite Israeli violations, and that Ankara was working to increase humanitarian aid and support reconstruction.

Erdoğan also said Türkiye would continue efforts to help end the war in Ukraine through a just and lasting peace.

Domestic security

Turning to domestic security, Erdoğan said key thresholds had been crossed in the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, adding that a parliamentary commission was nearing completion of a report intended to give the process new momentum.

He said the initiative should not be undermined by short-term political interests and pledged that the government would do what was necessary to ensure its success.

Erdoğan concluded by saying his government would continue to focus on concrete projects and investments in 2026, extending New Year’s wishes to Türkiye, the region and the world.

(Source: Anadolu Agency)