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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday pledged national unity and resilience against what he called orchestrated efforts to destabilize the region.
The Turkish president was speaking at a ceremony to place relatives of martyrs and veterans into public service roles.
Addressing regional tensions, Erdogan accused unnamed actors of attempting to keep the neighborhood unstable.
“We know the scenario, and we know the scenarists very well,” he said.
“Plans to trap this region in instability will not succeed. We have the strength to foil every game and tear up every script.”
Erdogan framed the remarks in historical terms, emphasizing Türkiye’s longstanding presence in the region and rejecting any suggestion that his country is an outsider.
“We are not guests nor occupiers here. We are hosts of these lands and will remain so,” he said.
Erdogan reiterated his long-stated goal of a “terror-free Türkiye,” calling for national solidarity across ethnic and sectarian lines.
“We will reach the goal of a Türkiye without terrorism together,” he said, urging unity among Turks, Kurds, Laz and others.
He stressed that the nation must remain calm and resolute in the face of provocations.
The president also linked the speech to Türkiye’s criticism of the war in Gaza, condemning what he called mass atrocities and saying Türkiye will continue to speak out on behalf of oppressed peoples across the region.
“The strongest response to this genocide has again come from Türkiye,” he said.
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