Newsletters
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated on Friday that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are prepared to neutralize any threat directed at Türkiye "at its source and in a timely manner."
He also described the risk of a direct military confrontation with Israel as "very low" at present, in a wide-ranging interview addressing the expanding Middle East conflict.
Speaking to Turkish media outlet, Posta newspaper's Hakan Celik, Guler stated that the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran should not be viewed as limited to the warring parties alone.
"Air and missile threats, the security of maritime trade routes, energy supply security, cyber threats and proxy elements create multidimensional risks that increase fragility in the security equation stretching from the Middle East to the Eastern Mediterranean," Guler said.
He said Türkiye was following developments with composure and prioritizing the prevention of the conflict's spread.
Guler warned that the destabilization of the region could lead to increased illegal irregular migration and international smuggling activities.
"We also know that terrorist organizations aim to increase their gains by exploiting the power vacuum and internal turmoil that may occur in the region. We clearly saw this in Iraq and Syria," he noted.
"The fundamental principle for our Turkish Armed Forces is clear: preparedness and deterrence to neutralize any threat that may be directed at Türkiye at its source and in a timely manner," Guler added, saying the armed forces were continuing planning and preparations against all possible threats in coordination with relevant state institutions.
Asked whether he foresaw a risk of military confrontation between Türkiye and Israel, Guler stated that such a possibility existed but was currently considered very unlikely.
"We expressed our humanitarian and moral reaction to the massacre taking place before the eyes of the entire world in Gaza," he stated.
"We do not approve of the Netanyahu administration's attacks on neighboring countries, and we believe these attacks will harm the peace and stability of our region," Guler noted.
He acknowledged that rising tensions in the Middle East and Mediterranean had significantly affected Türkiye-Israel relations in recent years, citing disagreements over Syria's future, Eastern Mediterranean energy resources, maritime jurisdiction disputes and regional alliances.
"In general, while a direct military conflict risk exists, we see this possibility as very low for now. To prevent possible undesirable situations, contact and coordination channels aimed at reducing misunderstandings and the risk of accidental conflict on the ground are operated between our relevant institutions when necessary," Guler said.
On Türkiye's military presence in countries including Qatar, Guler said the deployments reflected national security interests, alliance relationships and a commitment to regional stability, not expansionism or a show of force.
He stated that the Turkish military presence serves joint training, capacity building, deterrence and crisis management at the source.
Regarding northern Syria, Guler noted that Türkiye's military presence was conditional, based rather than tied to a fixed timeline.
"Our fundamental approach is to support the formation of a political order that preserves Syria's territorial integrity, has a strong central authority and encompasses all segments of society," he said, adding that the elimination of terrorism, the primary reason for Türkiye's presence, required the creation of a terror-free Syria.
On the U.S. relationship with the terrorist group YPG/SDF, Guler stated that recent American statements addressing the Syrian government rather than the SDF indicated convergence with Türkiye's position.
"We believe that a lasting solution in Syria is possible not through the institutionalization of armed structures, but through inclusive political processes and unification under central authority," he concluded.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
4 min read
