Reminding that the Cyprus Peace Operation was carried out within the framework of Türkiye's rights arising from international agreements as a guarantor state, the Ministry of National Defense said, "The presence of the Turkish military on the Island continues to be the guarantee of peace, security and stability for more than half a century. The Turkish Armed Forces is today more determined than ever to give the necessary response to any hostile attitude targeting the security of the Turkish Cypriot people."
A weekly press briefing was held by the Ministry of National Defense at HAVELSAN's Ankara Technology Campus. Making a statement at the meeting, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press and Public Relations Advisor of the Ministry of National Defense, drew attention to the place of HAVELSAN, where the meeting was held, in the Turkish defense industry and said that the company, which was established in 1982, developed local and national solutions in the fields of command control, simulation, training, autonomous systems, cyber security and information and communication technologies. Aktürk emphasized that many strategic projects have been developed by HAVELSAN, especially platforms such as ADVENT Combat Management System, Air Combat Information System (HvBS), BARKAN, KAPGAN, BOZBEY, BAHA and SANCAR, as well as artificial intelligence-supported defense technologies, cyber security solutions and critical information systems. Celebrating the 44th anniversary of HAVELSAN, Aktürk said, "We once again congratulate the 44th anniversary of HAVELSAN, which contributes to further increasing the power and effectiveness of our Turkish Armed Forces, and we wish success to all its employees who make valuable contributions to the defense power of our country."
"3 PKK terrorists surrendered in the last week"
Providing information about the anti-terrorism activities of the Turkish Armed Forces, Aktürk said, "During the past week, 3 more PKK terrorists surrendered, and activities to detect and destroy mines, handmade explosives, caves, bunkers and shelters in the operation areas continued."
Sharing data on border security, Aktürk said, "In the last week, 404 people trying to cross the border illegally were caught, and 701 people were blocked before crossing the border. Thus, the number of people caught trying to cross the border illegally from January 1 to today has reached 6 thousand 19, and the number of people blocked before crossing the border has reached 41 thousand 830."
"SOLOTURK show will be held in TRNC on July 20"
Stating that they are already celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the 20 July Peace and Freedom Day, Aktürk emphasized the importance of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which is the guarantee of the existence and security of the Turkish Cypriot people. Aktürk said, "On July 20, there will be a port visit by TCG Gökova, TCG Tufan and TCG Dolunay in Kyrenia, a demonstration flight by SOLOTÜRK and a combat aircraft pass in Nicosia."
"Israel's attacks aim to undermine negotiations"
Referring to the situation in the Middle East, Aktürk stated that they condemn Israel's attacks on civilians in Lebanon and Palestine and said, "These attacks, which are a reflection of Israel's occupation and annexation policies, aim to undermine the negotiations that have reached the final stage. We reiterate that the parties' completion of the negotiations with a constructive understanding will serve the peace, prosperity and stability of our region and the world."
Aktürk announced that within the scope of activities aimed at developing military cooperation between Turkey and Syria and restructuring the Syrian Armed Forces, the Commander of the Naval Forces and his accompanying delegation visited Latakia with TCG Istanbul, TCG Bora, TCG Tufan, TCG Gemlik and TCG Heybeliada on July 13. "Within the framework of the visit of our Naval Forces' ships to Latakia Port for the first time in 18 years, inter-delegation meetings were held with the Commander of the Syrian Naval Forces and inspections were made at the Latakia Military Port," said Aktürk, adding that the visit is important for the military cooperation between the two countries.
Intensive diplomacy and education traffic from the Ministry of National Defense
Aktürk stated that Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler signed the "Letter of Goodwill on Defense Cooperation" with the Egyptian Minister of Defense and Military Production in the last week, received the Commander of the Pakistan Land Forces and Defense Forces and gave a conference on "Türkiye's Defense Strategy and Capacity". Aktürk said that the Chief of General Staff awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal to the Commander of the Pakistan Land Forces and Defense Forces. Aktürk also stated that the Amphibious Corps Commander will attend the 2026 African Naval Forces Summit to be held in Rabat, Morocco, between 20-24 July, and that the Air Forces Command carried out a flight mission with the Air Warning Control aircraft within the scope of Operation Sea Guardian in the Eastern Mediterranean on 14 July.
Stating that the National Defense University 2026 military student recruitment selection phase activities will continue until August 7, Aktürk noted that the candidates can benefit from the dormitories of the Credit and Dormitories Institution between July 15 and August 31.
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) also stated that activities related to the S-400 Long Range Regional Air and Missile Defense System are continuing in a multifaceted manner and stated that concrete situations will be shared with the public. In the statement, it was stated that "Activities related to the S-400 Long Range Regional Air and Missile Defense Systems continue in a multifaceted manner. When concrete situations occur, they will be shared with the public."
"The Turkish Armed Forces is today more determined than ever to give the necessary response to any hostile attitude targeting the security of the Turkish Cypriot people."
The Ministry reacted harshly to the European Parliament's decision regarding the Cyprus Peace Operation and described the allegations targeting the Turkish Armed Forces as "groundless, irrational and despicable". In the statement made by the Ministry, it was said, "We strongly reject the unfounded, irrational and despicable allegations and the decision taken regarding the Cyprus Peace Operation targeting our heroic Turkish Armed Forces." In the statement, it was stated that the massacres and forced migrations suffered by the Turkish Cypriot people were ignored and "This decision is a clear indication of the insanity in the European Parliament and the unilateral approach based on Greek propaganda."
The statement emphasized that Türkiye, as a guarantor state, carried out the Cyprus Peace Operation within the framework of its rights arising from international agreements, and said, "The presence of Turkish soldiers on the Island continues to be the guarantee of peace, security and stability for more than half a century."
The statement also stated, "The Turkish Armed Forces are today more determined than ever to give the necessary response to any hostile attitude targeting the security of the Turkish Cypriot people."
"Cooperation with Syria in the maritime field will contribute to regional stability"
In the statement made by the Ministry, it was stated that expanding the relations between Turkey and Syria to different areas and improving the capacity of the Syrian Navy will contribute to regional stability. "We believe that expanding the harmonious relations between our country and the Syrian Arab Republic to different areas, establishing new collaborations and improving the capacity of the Syrian Navy will contribute to the stability of the region."
In the statement, it was reported that the Commander of the Naval Forces and his accompanying delegation visited Syria on July 13 with the aim of strengthening military cooperation and coordination in the maritime field between Türkiye and Syria.
"Defense cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt has gained new momentum"
Touching on the defense relations between Türkiye and Egypt, the Ministry stated that military cooperation has gained significant momentum with the recent high-level contacts. In the statement made by the Ministry, it was stated that the exercises in which air elements participated in the two countries in June made a significant contribution to improving interoperability and increasing joint operational capability. The statement pointed to the "Defense Cooperation Goodwill Letter" signed between the Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and the Egyptian Minister of Defense, and emphasized that the document in question reveals the common will to further develop the defense and security cooperation between Turkey and Egypt on an institutional basis. In the statement, it was stated that this will is a strong step towards deepening the relations strengthened by historical ties on the basis of mutual trust and common interests and developing new areas of cooperation that will contribute to regional peace, stability and security. - ANKARA