UPDATE - Ankara ready to bring 'new nightmares' to those using terrorism to target Türkiye: President Erdogan

ADDS MORE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT

By Alperen Aktas and Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye is ready to bring “new nightmares” to those who are trying to bring the country to its knees with terrorism, vowed the nation's president on Monday.

“We're ready to bring new nightmares to those who think they can bring Türkiye to its knees with a Terroristan along its southern borders,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan after chairing a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, referring principally to the PKK, based across the border in northern Iraq, and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

“Issues concerning our borders with Iraq will be permanently resolved this summer,” Erdogan added. PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, across the border, to plot attacks on Türkiye.

He also said that Türkiye is determined “to establish a security corridor along its borders with Syria, extending 30-40 kilometers (18.6-25 miles) in depth,” a step it tried to take with previous pacts with US and Russian forces in the region, agreements that Ankara says were not followed.

Erdogan highlighted that Türkiye is not limited to its own borders, adding that the country “is the heart of a much larger geography, from the Balkans to Central Asia, from the Black Sea to North Africa, from the Aegean to South Asia."

- Türkiye is doing its best for Gaza, Palestine, it will continue to do so

Erdogan said it is clear who allowed, supported, stood by, and even silently rejoiced at the massacres that Israel is carrying out in Gaza.

He said that Türkiye is trying to support the people of Gaza through diplomatic initiatives, humanitarian aid, and sincere cries for help.

"Türkiye is doing its best for Gaza and Palestine, it will continue to do so," Erdogan added.

Urging a unified Islamic world "like bricks of a wall, especially for Gaza," he said: "The solution to the (Gaza) problem lies in achieving effective and resolute international consensus.”

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed over 30,000 people and injured nearly 72,000 others, with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

- Defense industry achievements

In the first two months of 2024, Türkiye set a new record in the defense and aviation sector with an export figure of $633 million, President Erdogan said during his speech. “Türkiye has made great strides in the defense industry over the last 21 years, elevating the domestic production rate from around 20% to over 80%. With over 850 local defense industry projects and a project size of $90 billion, Türkiye has become one of the most self-sufficient countries in this field,” he added.

Erdogan also said Türkiye has increased its defense exports some 4 1/2-fold in the last 10 years by sharing its high-tech products with “friendly and allied countries.”

He also said that Türkiye exported 230 types of defense industry products to 185 different countries, totaling $5.5 billion.

On Türkiye’s defense exports, Erdogan said: “We are at the top of the list in the export league of UAVs, including TB2, AKINCI, ANKA, and AKSUNGUR armed drones.

Türkiye, so far, signed contracts for 770 unmanned aerial vehicles with 50 countries. Just the export value of UAVs in the past year was $1.8 billion, he added.

“We have not forgotten who did not sell weapons and ammunition to Türkiye but freely distributed them to terrorist organizations, turning a blind eye to their potential use against us. This is why we say that we no longer pay attention to who says what or what others demand. We now only focus on what Türkiye needs and the necessary steps it should take,” he said.