30.08.2026 19:10
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered striking messages regarding the transformation of the Turkish Armed Forces over the past 10 years at the diploma and standard handover ceremony held at the Turkish Military Academy. Referring to the steps taken in the fight against FETO, Erdogan said, "We have managed to cleanse those dishonorable individuals who betrayed the honorable uniform from both our army and our military schools." While stating that the Turkish army is experiencing its strongest period today, Erdogan also highlighted the developments in the defense industry.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at the National Defense University Military Academies Diploma and Ensign Handover Ceremony held at the Turkish Military Academy. Erdogan, who gave striking messages regarding the fight against FETO in the Turkish Armed Forces, also emphasized the point the army has reached today.
"WE SUCCEEDED IN CLEANSING THE DISHONORABLE ONES FROM OUR ARMY"
Referring to the fight against FETO, Erdogan described the regulations made in the Turkish Armed Forces and military schools after the July 15 coup attempt.
Erdogan said, "Over the course of 10 years, we succeeded in cleansing those dishonorable ones who betrayed that honorable uniform from both our army and our military schools."
"OUR ARMY IS EXPERIENCING ITS STRONGEST PERIOD TODAY"
Also making assessments regarding the strength of the Turkish army, Erdogan said, "Our army is experiencing its strongest period today."
Stating that the localization rate in the defense industry has risen above 82 percent, Erdogan said that Turkey can produce critical systems in the land, air, naval, and space fields with its own capabilities.
"TURKEY IS NOW A TRAVELER OF A DIFFERENT LEAGUE"
Drawing attention to Turkey's development in the defense industry, Erdogan stated that it now only competes with itself.
President Erdogan said, "Actors and structures that were considered security threats for our country 20-30 years ago are not today at the strength and scale to compete with Turkey. Turkey is now a player in a different league."
120 THOUSAND APPLICATIONS TO NDU
Erdogan announced that 120 thousand applications were made to the National Defense University this year, noting that in many European countries, even the quotas for military academies and non-commissioned officer vocational schools could not be filled.
President Erdogan said, "The prestige of our National Defense University is increasing on a global scale year by year. In the defense industry, we can similarly produce our critical systems in land, air, sea, and space with our own capabilities.
In the defense industry, where we have increased the localization rate above 82 percent, we are now, so to speak, only competing with ourselves. Actors and structures that were considered security threats for our country 30 years ago are no longer at the strength and scale to compete with Turkey. Turkey is now a player in a different league. Those who target our person, our nation, and our state must understand this very, very well."
Erdogan also congratulated the 1,276 lieutenants who graduated from the military academies and wished the new officers success in their duties.