Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler reiterated his country’s perseverance in following through with the policies reflected in the “Blue Homeland” idea, an irredentist strategy promoting a neo-Ottoman idea.
Speaking aboard the frigate Salihreis during the naval exercise “Blue Homeland 2025” on Thursday, Guler, who also addressed Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue in his remarks, underlined that it reflected Turkey’s determination to defend its maritime rights and interests while adhering to international law.
“Everyone, particularly our neighbor [Greece], must be assured that we want to see the Mediterranean and the Aegean as regions of stability and prosperity. We believe this will benefit both our countries and peoples. However, while striving for a peaceful solution, we stress that we will never compromise on our national rights and interests,” the Turkish defense minister stated.
On Cyprus
Commenting on the issue of Cyprus, Guler reaffirmed Turkey’s position that “the only and definitive solution must be based on the reality of two separate states and two distinct peoples on the island. This has increasingly been acknowledged by the international community.” He dismissed the 50-year-old rhetoric surrounding the issue as “outdated” and “inconsistent with historical and current realities.”
Incredibly, as Turkey played a pivotal role in bringing about the toppling of the Assad regime by backing militant Islamist groups, thus contributing to the volatility in the wider region, the Turkish politician asserted that it was the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member-state, that was exploiting the Middle East crisis and engaging in “destabilizing activities under the guise of humanitarian aid”.
He further criticized “certain allies” for allegedly encouraging the “Greek Cypriot Administration” in its negative stance, claiming such actions are “incompatible with the spirit of the Alliance.”
“Cyprus is our national cause. In this regard, we will continue to support the legitimate interests of the Turkish Cypriots under any circumstances and will do our utmost for the peace, security, and prosperity of the island in accordance with the Treaty of Guarantee and the Alliance agreements,” Guler concluded.
