TEN years ago, on July 15, 2016, one of the most brutal coup attempts in Turkish political history took place. The aim of this attempt, carried out by a terrorist network that cunningly infiltrated state institutions, was to drag Türkiye into long-term chaos and subject the future of its people to its hegemony. However, our noble people, who held fast to the independence of their homeland and the future of their nation, confronted the putschists with heroic resistance, declaring to the entire world that the national will on this land cannot be enslaved or confiscated. Undoubtedly, the wisdom, courage, and foresight demonstrated by the Turkish people on the night of July 15 stand as a unique event in the history of global democracy.
This treacherous attempt, carried out by the FETÖ terrorist organization, transcended being a traditional military coup; it represented a comprehensive attempt at occupation that threatened our country’s independence and sovereignty. The primary targets of the putschists were the Presidential Complex and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, as they are the two institutions that embody the national will and the independence of the Turkish people. In the statement I made on the night of July 15, I emphasized that I have never believed in a power superior to the power of the people. I said this with the absolute certainty that the Turkish people would protect their free will. Indeed, our people took to the streets that night with unwavering faith and immense self-confidence, refusing to submit to the hegemony of the terrorist gang. In defense of their homeland’s independence, democratic achievements, and free will, our people put up a brave resistance, sacrificing what is most precious to them, until they succeeded in defeating the putschists, writing a national epic in safeguarding the popular will that will remain a source of pride passed down through generations.
We drew determination from our people’s courageous stance to act swiftly to eliminate the negative aftermath of this treacherous attempt. We immediately initiated structural reforms to strip any entities within state institutions of their ability to threaten the democratic process through extra-political means. Following this, we achieved decisive successes in operations conducted domestically and abroad as part of our strategy to eradicate the other terrorist organizations we faced. Ultimately, we launched the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative as a new page in our journey of national unity and cohesion. This path is one of the fundamental pillars of the “Century of Türkiye” vision, and it is moving forward, by God’s grace, with confident steps toward its goals, relying on a comprehensive and inclusive approach, the efforts of our specialized security agencies, and the support of our political institutions. I believe that the success of the “Terror-Free Türkiye” path will not only positively impact our country’s security and stability but will also contribute to fostering peace and stability in our region.
We have taken firm steps toward building a more prosperous future through the projects we launched in the energy, transport, health, agriculture, technology, and defense sectors, as part of our struggle against the coup attempt that also targeted our country’s economic well-being and development. Over the past ten years, we have achieved a qualitative leap in the defense, aviation, and aerospace industries through the National Technology Initiative. We have also developed smart and electric transport systems, and made significant investments in health and agriculture, striving to honor the sacrifices made by our people. During this phase, we also continued the development of products that have become globally recognized brands, most notably the TOGG electric vehicle, the KAAN national combat aircraft, national corvettes, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
On the other hand, over the past ten years, Türkiye has emerged—thanks to its proactive diplomacy—as an influential player in resolving crises and conflicts at regional and international levels. We did not hesitate to assume our responsibilities to establish peace and stability; thus, we stood in all conflict zones alongside the oppressed and the rightful, rather than the powerful. Whenever injustice or a breach of justice occurred, Türkiye was the voice of international law, justice, and human conscience. If Türkiye is regarded today as a dependable partner in regional and international issues, whose voice is trusted and whose views are taken into consideration, the credit for this achievement belongs to the resolute will of our noble people, who sacrificed themselves to defend their country’s independence and their nation’s future on the night of July 15.
The fight against terrorism, which requires international cooperation, remains at the forefront of our foreign policy agenda. As is well known, the internal fragmentation within the external structure of the FETÖ terrorist organization has accelerated over the past two years. Nevertheless, we are aware that some countries continue, even if covertly, to support this organization and harbor its members. On this occasion, I would like to stress the necessity of remaining vigilant against the FETÖ terrorist organization, which does not hesitate to resort to any means to achieve its goals, masquerades in various guises, and exploits concepts of democracy, freedom, human rights, and other values.
As a nation that lost 253 of its citizens as martyrs at the hands of the putschists on the night of July 15, our fundamental expectation of the international community is to support Türkiye’s legitimate struggle. Establishing global peace, security, and prosperity can only be achieved through a firm and relentless fight against terrorist organizations, without any discrimination, and based on sincere cooperation.
President of the Republic of Türkiye
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
