President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at the graduation ceremony for the military faculties of the National Defense University in Ankara that the Turkish military is experiencing one of its strongest periods. Erdoğan said the university's reputation on the global stage is growing each year.
276 lieutenants graduate
A total of 276 lieutenants received their diplomas at the ceremony. The event also saw 141 military personnel from friendly and brotherly countries graduate, bringing the total number of graduates from military academies since 2016 to 22,540. The total includes 1,229 foreign military personnel.
Erdoğan said the new graduates would enhance the Turkish military's strength, capacity, influence and reach through their knowledge, experience, discipline, virtue and conscience. He wished the foreign students success in the duties they will undertake in their own militaries and said they would contribute to relations between Türkiye and their countries.
Military education and application figures
Erdoğan said the National Defense University has completed its 10th year since its establishment. He said the university was founded after the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, to bring the faculties providing military education under one roof.
Erdoğan announced that 67,464 officers, noncommissioned officers and officer candidates had graduated from the military schools affiliated with the university to date. He said 120,000 applications had been submitted to the university this year, adding that the number of applications demonstrated the interest in military education.
Statement on removing the Gülen organization from the military
Erdoğan said progress had been made over the past 10 years in removing members of the Gülen organization from the Turkish military and military faculties. In his address, Erdoğan commemorated with mercy those who lost their lives for the homeland and nation and expressed his gratitude to the wounded.
10th year of Operation Euphrates Shield
Erdoğan said this year marks the 10th anniversary of Operation Euphrates Shield, carried out in northern Syria, and that the operation dealt a heavy blow to terrorist organizations threatening Türkiye's security. The operation began on August 24, 2016, through cooperation between the Turkish military and the Syrian National Army and was conducted against ISIS and other elements threatening security in the region.
237 people rescued in ferry accident
Erdoğan said search-and-rescue efforts were continuing after a ferry sank off the Turkish Cypriot coast. He said comprehensive operations were launched immediately after the accident in coordination with the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, adding that 237 passengers and crew members had been rescued and 7 people had died.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel also said that 237 people had been rescued after the ferry capsized, 7 people had died and 23 people were missing. Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı said that water had entered a passenger ferry off Kyrenia.
The ferry, owned by a private company, had departed from Kyrenia Port for Mersin's Taşucu Port. A total of 267 people were on board, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members.
1,468 defense industry projects
Erdoğan said Türkiye can produce major systems in the land, air, maritime and space fields through its own capabilities in the defense industry. He said technologies developed with domestic resources were exhibited at Teknofest Blue Homeland, held from August 20 to 23.
Erdoğan announced that the Presidency of Defense Industries was simultaneously carrying out 1,468 projects with a total value exceeding $100 billion. He said the domestic production rate in the defense industry had been raised above 82%, adding that competition in the sector was continuing primarily through Türkiye's development of its own capabilities.
