TCG Anadolu, the “crown” of the Turkish Armed Forces, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ported in Izmir, which after sailing in the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus, went to the Aegean.
This is a pre-election move by Erdoğan, with special symbolism. Both on the side of the Kemalist opposition, which directly questions his primacy, and Greece, which categorically rejects the “Blue Homeland” narrative.
The descent of the TGG Anadolu to the Aegean Sea and to Izmir was announced by Erdoğan himself a week ago, during a pre-election fiesta on the Bosporus.
He commented that: “the aircraft carrier is the guard of the Blue Homeland” and that for a week “it will go to Izmir to send the appropriate message”.
TCG ANADOLU Çok Maksatlı Amfibi gemimiz, İzmir Limanı’na intikal seyri kapsamında Çanakkale Boğazı’nda halkımızı ve Çanakkale Şehitler Abidesi'ni selamladı.#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/n3WfXNspt0
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) May 2, 2023
Analysts estimate that the presence of TCG Anadolu is aimed at damaging the prestige of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, since Izmir is considered a stronghold of the Kemalists.
Last Sunday, the united opposition candidate held an impressive campaign rally with thousands of supporters forming a huge “red river”.
Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerinin en büyük savaş gemisi, yerli ve milli üretim TCG Anadolu, Çanakkale Boğazı'ndan geçti https://t.co/mL8ZTflWmR pic.twitter.com/KAgKgLPigZ
— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) May 2, 2023
At the same time, the – domestically produced – amphibious operations helicopter indirectly aims at the “opposite” side of the Aegean, that is, in Greece. Hence Erdoğan’s statement that “he will go to Izmir to send the appropriate message”.
The city with its once thriving Greek community, which disappeared in the ashes of the Asia Minor Disaster in 1922, was formerly called “Giaour Izmir” (Smyrna the infidel) that is.
After the “break” due to earthquakes, the Turkish president brought back the “Blue Homeland” narrative and extreme rhetoric against our country.
Analysts consider the period between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the critical presidential elections in Turkey (May 14-28) to be critical, as long as no winner emerges from the first Sunday.
The TCG Anadolu sailed from Istanbul’s Tuzla and through the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus, exited the Dardanelles Straits, where it was warmly welcomed by citizens gathered on both banks.
It took eight years to acquire the multipurpose amphibious assault ship. TCG Anadolu was originally intended to be used as Turkey’s first aircraft carrier, with the F-35s it would receive from the US.
After being excluded from their production program, Turkey ended up with a … helicopter carrier, which will carry dozens of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, exclusively for use on this ship.
It can carry 13 tanks, 27 armored amphibious assault vehicles (ZAHA), 6 armored personnel carriers (ZPT), 15 trailers and another 33 miscellaneous vehicles on its decks.
READ MORE: Turkey: Erdoğan dresses as a pilot after his illness and sends a warning to Greece.
