July 15 detail in CHP's national security warning! 'After the coup attempt...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman responsible for National Defense Policies, Yankı Bağcıoğlu, stated that Turkey must develop a new security architecture suitable for the changing threat environment. In a written statement, Bağcıoğlu drew attention to the importance of keeping the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) out of politics and said, "The structural changes made after July 15 must be reviewed."

Touching upon the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation in his statement, Bağcıoğlu expressed the following:

"First of all, I commemorate our dear martyrs and heroic veterans who successfully carried out the Amphibious Operation, the most difficult and complex type of military operation, 51 years ago with mercy and gratitude.

Despite all kinds of adversity, the Turkish Armed Forces successfully executed an 'amphibious operation' supported by the Air Force, including 'advance force, landing on the shore, airborne and air assault operations,' in a way that will set an example for world military history."

"'National Security Strategies' published by various states in recent times have clearly revealed that in the new era, security can be provided not only by armies but also by information, technology, society, and the economy, that is, by all elements of national power.

"THREATS ARE NO LONGER JUST ON THE FRONTLINES"

These approaches show that:

• -Threats are no longer just on the frontlines; they are carried out through perception operations, economic manipulations, agricultural policies, education systems, cyberattacks, and methods targeting the social will.
• -Defense is the responsibility not only of the state but also of a conscious and prepared society.
• -True security is possible with technological sovereignty, military deterrence, information superiority, effective crisis management, and a resilient social structure.

In light of these facts, Turkey must rebuild its security architecture not only through military measures but also in line with the following headings:

INFORMATION AND SOCIETY-BASED SECURITY MANAGEMENT

Taking France's social resilience strategy and the UK's UK Resilience Academy model as examples, the "National Security Academy" established in the past should be updated and brought back to life. This structure should train a wide range of people, from bureaucrats to local administrations, and from public officials to communication professionals, in the fields of crisis management, intra-state coordination, resistance against cyber and asymmetric threats, and combating disinformation.

TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY AND DOMESTIC PRODUCTION ASSURANCE

Technological superiority and operational independence are of vital importance in national security.

As the CHP, we propose the implementation of the following principles:

• -Effective, fair, and auditable defense industry management
• -Removal of obstacles to the transition from prototype to production
• -Reduction of foreign dependency in critical systems
• -Prioritization of AI-supported systems, supply chain security, and information security
• -Increasing targets in exports

MULTI-LAYERED PREPARATION AGAINST ASYMMETRIC AND HYBRID THREATS

Modern security is no longer just a military issue; it is a cultural, cognitive, and social one.

Public awareness and social resilience can be achieved through:

• -Informing the public clearly and transparently during crises
• -Increasing trust in state institutions
• -Removing domestic politics and election calculations as a determining factor in foreign policy and security decisions
• -Establishing a fair and rights-based management approach where no one is marginalized

INTERNATIONAL POSITION AND DETERRENCE

As a country at the intersection of conventional, asymmetric, and cyber threats, Turkey must increase its deterrence. In this context, it is essential to review and correct the structural changes made after the July 15 coup attempt that weakened the operational capability of the TSK. The TSK regaining an effective structure is a prerequisite for contributing to regional and global security.

The strategic orientation that Turkey must put forward is clear: Modern security is provided not only with tanks, aircraft, and ships, but also with a conscious society, information superiority, and technological competence alongside these elements.

Our proposal as the CHP is as follows:

• -Social awareness and resilience should be strengthened with fair, democratic, and law-based practices.
• -The defense industry should be moved to an advanced level based on merit and transparency.
• -The TSK should be purged of political interference, and the structural changes made after July 15 should be reviewed.

A new understanding of security requires new institutions, a new vision, and a strong national consciousness."