Erdogan hails success of 'eliminating terrorism at source' strategy

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday hailed the success of Türkiye's strategy of "eliminating terrorism at its source," declaring that the approach has yielded significant results at home and abroad since the defeated July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

National Security Conferences

Speaking at the presidential complex during the opening ceremony of the National Security Conferences, Erdogan stated that the event was organized to promote a better understanding of the National Security Policy Document. He noted that following the defeated coup attempt, Ankara adopted a more active security posture based on eliminating threats at their origin rather than waiting for them to materialize within its borders.

Cross-border operations

Through this strategy, the president said, Türkiye has conducted a multidimensional fight against terrorist organizations while establishing a security line along its southern borders through cross-border operations into neighboring territories. He added that anti-terrorist operations conducted in areas of Iraq and Syria adjacent to the Turkish border have confirmed Ankara's ability to make independent security decisions and have "ushered in a new security era" for the republic.

Historical continuity

Erdogan described these measures as an important step toward strengthening Türkiye's strategic memory, improving coordination among state institutions, and preparing officials to accurately assess new and emerging threats. He emphasized the country's long state tradition, referring to the 16 states represented on the presidential seal that span some 2,200 years of history, noting that "the Republic of Türkiye is not the first state we founded on these lands, but it is our latest."