06.07.2026 07:20
While Israel deploys missile systems in Southern Cyprus, Greece, and Romania, it has initiated talks with Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Hungary, and Moldova to expand its encirclement line against Turkey. As Israel seeks to centralize radar and interception systems in the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans, and Black Sea under a single center, Turkey is enhancing its deterrence through defense industry projects, particularly the Steel Dome.
It has been claimed that Israel is trying to manage the radar and interception systems it has established in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Black Sea from a single center. While retired TSK Colonel and strategist İbrahim Keleş argues that the fear of "Turkey is encircling us" prevails in Israel, retired General Mehmet Okkan stated that Turkey foresaw this threat years ago and accelerated its defense projects.
"FEAR OF TURKEY IS VERY DOMINANT IN ISRAEL"
Retired TSK Colonel and strategist İbrahim Keleş, evaluating Israel's military structure in the region, claimed that Israel aims to manage the radar and interception systems it has established in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Black Sea from a single center.
According to the news from Türkiye Gazetesi, Keleş argued that the idea of "Turkey is encircling us" is quite dominant in Israel, and for this reason, Israel has carried out attacks on Syria and Lebanon.
Keleş, claiming that after Iran, the target is to demonize Turkey internationally, stated that Israel follows a regional encirclement strategy, but Turkey's military capacity is at a level that can break this encirclement.
"TURKEY SAW THE THREAT YEARS AGO"
Retired General Mehmet Okkan also claimed that Israel's desire to establish a new security line extending from Cyprus to Romania is real.
Stating that Turkey foresaw this plan years ago, Okkan expressed that in response, priority was given to air defense systems such as HİSAR, SİPER, GÖKBERK, SUNGUR, and GÜRZ developed within the scope of the Steel Dome project.
"WE MUST BE A DETERRENT FORCE BY 2028"
Okkan noted that Turkey's strategic collaborations with Gulf countries, Somalia, Libya, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with projects such as Anadolu LHD, Amphibious Corps, and Kızılelma, are also part of this defense strategy.
Stating that Turkey needs to allocate more resources to air defense systems, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicle projects, Okkan emphasized the importance of becoming a more effective and deterrent military force by 2028.