Striking statements from Naval Forces Commander Admiral Tatlıoğlu: We do not want NATO or America in the Black Sea

A ceremony was held at the National Defense University (MSÜ) Naval Petty Officer Vocational School for the 133rd anniversary of the establishment of the Naval Petty Officer Schools.

Speaking at the ceremony, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu provided information about the events occurring around Turkey and the work carried out by the Naval Forces. Reminding that very important economic developments have taken place in the Black Sea recently and that 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been discovered in the Western Black Sea, Tatlıoğlu said, "Currently, the Black Sea has an even greater importance for us in economic terms. We maintain a constant presence to continue our activities in the Black Sea. We continue to be present in the region with our ships in increasing numbers to maintain security and stability in the Black Sea. As you know, there are various problems in the Black Sea region. The tensions that began with Georgia and Russia in 2008, the South Ossetia and North Ossetia problems, the Abkhazia problems, the occupation of Crimea in 2014, the 2018 Kerch Strait incident, and the Ukraine-Russia War that began in 2022 have started a new era in the geopolitical struggle in the Black Sea. As you know, NATO is trying to take some measures in the Black Sea. However, we express that we will take these measures ourselves in the Black Sea and declare that we do not want NATO or America in the Black Sea," he said.

"THEY SHOULD NOT TURN THE BLACK SEA INTO A MIDDLE EAST"

Reminding that over 400 mines have been spilled into the Black Sea since the Ukraine-Russia War, Tatlıoğlu said that 17 of them have reached the Turkish coast. Explaining that they are working to ensure the mines do not damage drilling ships, Tatlıoğlu said:

"Therefore, we are in a very serious struggle in the Black Sea. We are also securing the grain corridor in the Black Sea. Although the grain corridor closed in 2023, initiatives to reopen it are ongoing. As the Naval Forces, we are eliminating all dangers related to mines in this grain corridor. Our goal is this: let the Montreux Convention be complied with. As Turkey, we provide all security in the Black Sea. They should not turn the Black Sea into a Middle East. We do not want any country or NATO to enter."

"GREECE IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE TENSION"

Pointing out that there has been no Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea throughout history, Tatlıoğlu explained what has happened in the Aegean over time. Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu stated that there are 8 fundamental issues with Greece, 7 of which are related to the Naval Forces, and noted the following:

"Instead of making an effort to resolve these, Greece is constantly engaging in activities that increase tension. For example, it is gradually increasing its defense budget. It is buying 4 Belharra-class frigates from France. It was going to buy 18, but increased it by 6 more; it is buying 24 Rafale aircraft. The USA has become our neighbor in the west. It currently has 3 large bases in Greece. There are islands with non-military status. There are 23 such islands, and it has armed 19 of them. We have islands and rocky outcrops whose sovereignty and ownership are disputed. They try to show them as their own by organizing visits to them as if they were their own islands. On one hand, when they find a suitable environment, they try to dictate their own strategies. Greece extended its territorial waters in the west to 12 miles in 2020. It is trying to send this message: If I find the opportunity, I will extend it to 12 miles in the Aegean as well."

Stating that Greece is also trying to prove that the islands belong to them by taking the European Union behind it, Tatlıoğlu said, "It is constantly harassing. Our maritime patrol aircraft, our planes, our helicopters, our ships. There are a total of 32 instances of harassment, and these harassments are continuing to increase. We support the legitimate government in Libya. However, France and Greece launched an operation to prevent this support of ours. In this operation, they are trying to reduce the support we give to Libya and its legitimate government. For this reason, they are trying to cut our connection with Libya by conducting an operation in the north of Libya. Another activity that escalates tension is that they declare various areas in the Aegean Sea, saying 'I will conduct training in these areas,' and prevent us from using the Aegean Sea," he said.

"THEY INTEND TO DETER US, THE TURKISH NAVAL FORCES, BY CONDUCTING JOINT EXERCISES"

Emphasizing that there are various problems in the Mediterranean as well, Tatlıoğlu stated that there is a significant amount of natural gas and oil in 3 basins in the Eastern Mediterranean. Expressing that there is a power struggle in the Eastern Mediterranean for this reason, Tatlıoğlu continued:

"No state can declare maritime jurisdiction areas alone in the Eastern Mediterranean. Because there are too many countries and they have interlocking jurisdiction areas. The Greek Cypriot Administration in the south of Cyprus and Greece in the south of Crete are trying to own the riches there alone by declaring various maritime jurisdiction areas. In the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration, Israel, and Egypt have formed a bloc against Turkey. France and America provide the greatest support to this bloc. With this support, they are in a bloc against Turkey. They intend to deter us, the Turkish Naval Forces, by conducting joint exercises. Greece's goal is to take over the role of regional leadership. Greece uses double standards in all its practices. For example, while determining maritime jurisdiction areas with Italy, it does not give maritime jurisdiction to its own islands, saying the islands have no maritime jurisdiction area. When it is to make such an agreement with us, it wants 41 thousand square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction area for the 10-square-kilometer island of Meis."

ITALIAN SHIPS BLOCKED

Stating that Greece is trying to keep Turkey out of the equation in the Eastern Mediterranean within the framework of the EastMed Natural Gas Pipeline project, Admiral Tatlıoğlu said, "They are also using Italy. Italian ships came and said they wanted to work within the framework of the EastMed Project, but we blocked them. We said we could not accept it. Because we know this is Greece's project. We did not allow this within our own maritime jurisdiction areas."

"THESE ARE INTERVENTIONS THAT SERIOUSLY BRING US TO THE BRINK OF WAR"

Explaining that they will not let anyone into the area Turkey has declared to the United Nations in the Mediterranean, Tatlıoğlu said, "We do not allow anyone here. We say that all the riches here belong to Turkey. In return, we had given the fields to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation for them to conduct exploration. We are conducting natural gas and oil exploration in these fields. They also want to do it in the same fields. So far, we have blocked a total of 35 ships. You follow these interventions from the press from time to time. Some are not given to the press. These are interventions that seriously bring us to the brink of war. In addition to blocking them ourselves, we continue to search for natural gas and oil here, in our own continental shelf," he said.

"WE DO NOT WANT A FORCE THAT COULD POSE A THREAT TO TURKEY TO COME TO ANY PART OF CYPRUS"

"Cyprus is another separate area of conflict for us with Greece," said Tatlıoğlu, adding, "Cyprus is very important for us. As we know, it is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean. It is in a very strategic location. It is very important in terms of its proximity to the Suez Canal and its control over the entire Eastern Mediterranean. We do not want a force that could pose a threat to Turkey to come to any part of Cyprus. We do not want surface-to-surface missile systems or air defense systems to be deployed against Turkey. Finally, we made a declaration in 2021. We said that we do not accept any solution other than a two-state solution in Cyprus," he stated.

NAVAL BASE BEING BUILT IN CYPRUS

Stating that they are building a new base in the pier area northeast of Famagusta, Tatlıoğlu explained that the Naval Forces will be permanently stationed there. Stating that while Greece's number of ships was at a much lower level than Turkey's, it is now at almost the same level, Tatlıoğlu said, "Therefore, we have ship needs on various platforms. We carry out our activities all over the world," he said.

Tatlıoğlu said that the number of immigrants has decreased by 98 percent since they started fighting against irregular migration.

"WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE AIR DEFENSE OF THE LIBYA REGION WITH OUR 2 SHIPS"

"We are very determined in the activities we carry out. As the Naval Forces, we protect our rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea," said Admiral Tatlıoğlu, adding, "Regarding the events in Libya, we sent our ships to the front of Libya. We sent our 4 frigates at the beginning. These have Haftar's large UAVs, the group on the other side. We shot down 3 of them with guided missiles fired from our frigates. As of now, we are providing support to the air defense of the Libya region with our 2 ships. We had a very hard time. They had to perform these duties for 6 months without stepping on land," he stated.
National Defense University Rector Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu also gave a speech at the program. The program in the hall ended with the singing of military marches.
Aircraft and helicopters accompanied the ceremonial march held within the framework of the events.