A large-scale Turkish naval-air exercise, code-named “Blue Homeland 2025”, commenced on Tuesday, and reportedly covers areas in the Aegean Sea, the east Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, according to a statement by that country’s defense ministry.
The “Blue Homeland” exercise, a reference to Turkey’s expressed expansionist and revisionist policies, involves 20,000 military personnel, 87 warships, seven submarines, seven unmanned naval vehicles, 31 aircraft, and is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 16.
Last year, Turkey conducted a large-scale naval-air exercise under the name “Sea Wolf” in two phases, in May and October. An exercise titled “Blue Homeland” was held in 2022. In 2023, a year marked by earthquakes and a rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, no major naval-air exercises were conducted.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the country’s new defense initiatives, according to a report by SKAI’s correspondent.
“Last week, we launched programs that will further strengthen us in the ‘Blue Homeland.’ Through the MILGEM program, we have built corvettes and frigates that are 100% domestically produced. We already have five such ships, and seven more are under construction,” Erdogan stated.
He added, “Using the expertise gained from this program, we have begun construction of our first air-defense cruiser in Istanbul. Meanwhile, at the Gölcük shipyard, we carried out the first welding for the country’s first domestically designed and produced submarine.”
Erdogan also announced plans for a new national aircraft carrier, describing it as the “big brother” of the TCG Anadolu, which Turkey already possesses.
“These projects will elevate Turkey’s status and fulfill our critical needs,” Erdogan noted. “We will continue working with determination to be a Turkey that inspires confidence in its friends and fear in its enemies.”
He emphasized, however, that Turkey’s investments in the defense industry are not aimed at preparing for war but at maintaining peace.
