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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Türkiye among the world's top three nations in drone technology during a Friday speech at the TEKNOFEST aviation festival Thursday, while delivering sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over demands for ancient Jerusalem artifacts.
Speaking at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport during the 13th edition of what organizers call the world's largest aerospace and technology festival, Erdogan highlighted Türkiye's defense industry achievements despite facing international embargoes and restrictions.
"Today we are writing new success stories on land, air and sea with products and systems we produce ourselves," Erdogan said. "We are the world's 11th largest country in defense exports. We are among the top 3 in the world in UAV and armed drone technology."
The Turkish leader's remarks come as the nation has emerged as a significant player in unmanned aerial vehicle production, with Turkish-made drones seeing widespread use in conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Türkiye's defense industry transformation represents a significant shift from decades of dependence on foreign suppliers, with the country now producing its own naval vessels, helicopters, tanks, and electronic warfare systems.
TEKNOFEST, now in its 13th year, has welcomed 11 million visitors since its inception and "has become a global brand," according to Erdogan. This year's event attracted 1.2 million participants from 96 countries competing in 65 different categories, with 13,000 finalists advancing to compete for prizes.
The president also highlighted Türkiye's entry into artificial intelligence technologies, citing a domestic AI system that has reached over 1.3 million users since its launch.
The president's address took a sharply political turn when he addressed recent tensions with Israel over the Silvan Inscription, an ancient artifact with historical ties to Jerusalem. Netanyahu has reportedly demanded Türkiye hand over the inscription, prompting a fierce rebuke from Erdogan.
"The other day, one of them came out spewing hatred at us for not giving the Silvan Inscription," Erdogan said, in an apparent reference to Netanyahu. "Jerusalem, along with Muslims, is the honor, dignity and pride of all humanity. We will not give you that inscription, not even a single pebble belonging to Holy Jerusalem."
The dispute comes as tensions between Türkiye and Israel are boiling, particularly over the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian rights. Erdogan invoked Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II, who refused Theodor Herzl's offer to purchase Palestine in the early 1900s, declaring: "Did Sultan Abdulhamid give it? Could you take it? We are the grandchildren of Sultan Abdulhamid, we are following the same path."
The Turkish president reiterated his government's position on Palestinian statehood, stating that Türkiye's struggle will continue "until an independent Palestinian state is established within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."
As regional tensions continue to simmer, Erdogan's dual message of technological advancement and defiant diplomacy reflects Türkiye's positioning as both an emerging defense industry power and a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights in the ongoing Middle East crisis.
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