Turkey Flexes Naval Muscle with "Blue Homeland 2025" Exercise

ISTANBUL – Turkey launched a major air and naval exercise, dubbed "Blue Homeland 2025," on Tuesday, showcasing its growing military might across the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. The exercise, involving over 20,000 personnel and a vast array of military hardware, underscores Turkey's commitment to its "Blue Homeland" doctrine, a maritime strategy asserting Turkish claims in the region.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed the participation of 87 surface vessels, including frigates and corvettes, alongside seven submarines, seven unmanned naval vehicles, 31 aircraft, 17 helicopters, and 28 drones. Specialized units, such as the Underwater Attack and Underwater Defense Groups, are also taking part. Operations are being coordinated from a dedicated command center at the Gölcük Naval Warfare Center.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a staunch proponent of the "Blue Homeland" vision, praised Turkey's expanding defense capabilities. He highlighted the development of two new missiles, one with a range exceeding 800 kilometers and the other boasting a range of over 2,000 kilometers. These advancements, Erdoğan asserted, are crucial to ensuring Turkey's security and projecting its power in the region.

"We are working with determination to be a Turkey that gives confidence to its friends and inspires fear in its enemies," Erdoğan declared, emphasizing the country's ambition to become a major regional player.

The president also underscored the importance of the MILGEM program, which has enabled Turkey to build its own warships, including corvettes and frigates. He further revealed plans for a new, larger aircraft carrier, envisioned as the successor to the TCG Anadolu.

Despite the display of military strength, Erdoğan insisted that Turkey's investments in defense are not aimed at provoking conflict, but rather at safeguarding peace and stability. "Our goal is not war, but to maintain and defend peace," he stated.

The "Blue Homeland 2025" exercise is scheduled to conclude on January 16th, with distinguished guests expected to observe proceedings at the Aksaz naval base near Rhodes on January 9th. The exercise is likely to be closely monitored by neighboring countries, particularly Greece, which has ongoing maritime disputes with Turkey.