Erdoğan: Türkiye counters regional ‘bloodshed’ schemes, advances defence

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday that Türkiye is working to thwart attempts to redesign the region through ongoing conflicts, while steadfastly advancing its defence industry. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan stated that certain circles are trying to influence regional developments through “bloodshed and tears” in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and Yemen, adding that Türkiye is acting to foil such “games.”

Defence industry and historic responsibility

Erdoğan said Türkiye is “making history” in the defence industry and remains focused on long‑term goals amid a period of major regional and global transformation. “As the government and alliance, we are aware that we have assumed a historic responsibility at a time of historic transformations. We have no time to engage in quarrels or polemics,” he emphasised. He also declared that Istanbul would remain Turkish and Muslim despite opposition from what he called the “remnants of Byzantium.”

National unity

Stressing national unity, Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to stand together, grow stronger, and move forward as one nation. His remarks come as Türkiye prepares to host the NATO summit in Ankara in July and continues its mediation efforts in the Iran‑US war, while also facing cross‑border threats from terrorist groups. The president’s message reinforced Ankara’s determination to maintain an independent foreign and defence policy, reducing external dependencies through domestic production.