"Whoever rules the sea, rules the world": Turkey is building naval power
The commander of the Turkish Navy revealed that 37 ships are being built for the fleet and 24 for export, alongside the development of an aircraft carrier, a submarine, and an air defense destroyer. Ankara presents this move as part of the struggle for influence in the maritime domain.
The commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, revealed that the country is simultaneously building over 50 warships, of which 37 are intended for the Turkish Navy and another 24 for export. This announcement, widely reported by news agencies in Turkey, was made during the opening of the "Teknofest - Blue Homeland" technology festival at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard.
Tatlıoğlu emphasized that Turkey's geostrategic location requires the establishment of a powerful naval force.
"We have built national frigates, landing ships, and corvettes. Now we are working on building our national aircraft carrier, an air defense destroyer, and a national submarine of local production," the admiral detailed.
He added that the ships are adapted to carry unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that take off vertically, such as the TB3 that operates from the deck of the aircraft carrier "Anadolu".
Turkish intensification does not stop at vessels alone. According to the admiral, the Turkish Navy makes extensive use of unmanned underwater and surface vessels, and develops advanced weapon systems, including the "Atmaca" guided missile, the "Akya" torpedo, and a modern naval mine system. Last month, an "Atmaca" missile was launched from a submarine and successfully hit a surface target from a distance of 190 kilometers.
In his remarks, Tatlıoğlu quoted the renowned Ottoman admiral Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha: "Whoever rules the sea, rules the world," and noted the 945th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Navy.
Turkish Minister of Defense, Yaşar Güler, emphasized that his ministry's goal is to increase the capabilities of the Navy as a deterrent force protecting Turkey's interests. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the technology company 'Baykar', Selçuk Bayraktar, noted that the area of Turkey's maritime jurisdictions stands at about 462,000 square kilometers.
"If our land homeland is the house, then the Blue Homeland is the garden. We will not give up a single drop of it," declared Bayraktar, who defined the naval intensification as a "struggle for justice and independence" in an era where, in his view, international law is being trampled.
