Busra Nur Cakmak and Asiye Yilmaz
21 May 2026•Update: 21 May 2026
Türkiye will continue defending “common values of humanity” against the “genocide networks” killing civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Speaking at EFES-2026 Combined, Joint, and Live-Fire Field Exercise in the western city of Izmir, Erdogan stressed that while pessimistic scenarios are being written about the future, Ankara is striving to position the country as a key actor in every field, especially in regional peace.
*Erdogan underlined that the world is going through a period in which security paradigms are changing, international law is losing altitude and credibility, and new security architectures are needed.
”New balances and new alliances are being formed in the world, but a new global order cannot be established. Our world is rapidly evolving from a status quo shaped by a handful of major powers into a multipolar, multi-actor structure,” he said.
The president said that the broader region in which Türkiye is located constitutes the center of gravity of this process, and added: “Türkiye’s name is being mentioned more and more every day as one of the influential actors of the new era.”
He also emphasized that he is aware of the need to keep the Turkish army strong and well-equipped in order to preserve peace and security in this difficult geography.
“As Türkiye, we will continue to stand for peace and stability against those investing in war and chaos,” he said.
