Author: Ibrahim Kurtulus

Dr Atac Thank you for your long and passionate response.

Dr. Mustafa Atac’s recent open letter, though emotionally charged and eloquently delivered, reads less as a fair-minded critique of Türkiye’s present condition and more as an overextended lament rooted in selective outrage and outdated narratives. As someone who deeply values the principles of civic discourse and constructive dissent, I feel compelled to respond—not out of blind loyalty to any individual or government, but out of respect for the truth and the dignity of the Republic of Türkiye.

Dr. Atac laments that Türkiye is economically isolated, diplomatically desperate, and intellectually bankrupt. These are serious claims. But are they true?

Let’s begin with the economy. Contrary to Dr. Atac’s assertion that Türkiye is “excluded from serious international financial circles,” recent data reveals the opposite. In 2023, Türkiye saw a 25.9% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), with notable inflows from the UK, Germany, and the U.S.—nations known for their financial due diligence. Türkiye continues to attract global capital in logistics, fintech, infrastructure, and energy. It is no secret that Türkiye faces challenges, including inflation and high interest rates, but to declare it an economic pariah is demonstrably false.

The portrayal of Türkiye’s education system as devolved into “a madrassa” ignores both facts and nuance. Turkish universities such as Koc, Bilkent, and Middle East Technical University consistently rank within the top 500–600 globally, according to QS and THE (Times Higher Education) rankings. Türkiye is also a key participant in the European Higher Education Area through the Bologna Process and hosts over 300,000 international students—a testament to its growing global academic appeal. The same institutions have trained engineers who developed drone technologies now exported to NATO members, such as Poland and the UK. That is not a failed system; that is a transforming one.

Dr. Atac also evokes preess freedom and judicial independence, citing various Western rankings. Yet the same rankings routinely downplay systemic abuses in their own backyards. When France detains over 11,000 protesters during the Yellow Vest movement or when journalists in the U.S. are jailed while covering civil unrest, no one questions the democratic character of those states. Why then does Türkiye’s struggle against terrorism, foreign subversion, and the remnants of a violent coup receive no such contextual consideration?

Let’s not forget that many of the so-called “journalists” imprisoned in Türkiye post-2016 were found to be complicit in the FETÖ-led coup attempt. Encrypted communications via By Lock, militaery coordination, and direct involvement in the July 15 tragedy are well-documented. It is not dissent that was punished—it was treason.

Dr. Atac sneers at Türkiye’s alliances with Qatar and Oman, as if diplomacy with non-Western partners is inherently suspect. Yet Türkiye maintains robust ties with Germany, the UK, Itaaly, and Japan, and sits at the G20 table, not as a guest, but as a permanent member. It hosts NATO’s second largest military, plays a key role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and leads humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza and Ukraine alike. This is not isolationism , itt is strategic pluralism.

Yes, there are challenges as Inflation must be controlled, and bureaucracy modernized. just two are valid points deserving of nuanced debate. But equating Türkiye’s evolution to North Korea’s oppression or Russia’s autocracy is not debate, it is distortion.

One cannot claim to uphold Atatürk’s legacy while dismissing Türkiye’s national achievements as mere propaganda. Atatürk was not only a revolutionary but also a realist a leader who demanded progress be grounded in national sovereignty, self reliance, and global presence. Türkiye’s military drone industry, its diplomatic activism, and its investment in critical infrastructure reflect precisely that spirit.

To critique is a right, even a duty, in a republic. But critique without proportion, without fairness, and without factual foundation becomes what Dr. Atac himself warns against: a betrayal not of the government, but of the very Republic he claims to defend.

In today’s Türkiye, there is space for dissent. The opposition governs major cities like İstanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. The Constitutional Court continues to rule independently. And millions vote in fair, competitive elections with turnout rates that shame much of the democratic world.

If one chooses to speak of Türkiye’s future, let it be done with courage but also with clarity. Let it be done with love not just for what we remember, but for what we are still building. Also, one should not be disparaged or vilified for holding a differing opinion. If the freedoms you invoke are only extended to those who share your particular worldview esspecially when that worldview is steeped in relentless criticism and hostility toward Türkiye then they cease to be freedoms at all and instead become instruments of intellectual exclusion.

Let us be very clear, Dr. Atac: Türkiye is not perfect but it is far from broken or in disarray, as your narrative suggests.

If you are searching for signs of a nation in crisis, you need only look at the United States. Here, citizens are at times arrested on the streets without due process; elected judges are removed from their courtrooms; city elected officials are taken into custody without being read their rights. Billions of taxpayer dollars are poured into endless wars, while over $15 billion has been funneled into sustaining the Netanyahu government despite its role in brutal campaigns that have drawn international condemnation.

In America, a citizen can be gunned down with 35 bullets into their bodies for JUST  making eye contact with the wrong police officer and if you are lucky if your family will find your body . So before you accuse Türkiye of institutional collapse, perhaps turn your lens toward the realities unfolding in your own environment with the venom of hate dripping fromyour lips .

As for your claim that I am a “mouthpiece” of Ankara—how dare you? You do not know me? Sir,  You have never sat with me, Sir,  never asked whom I voted for, never once attempted to understand my beliefs. You attack from afar with venomous words, but you know nothing of the person you seek to discredit.

If you seek a professional debate, I welcome it anywhere, anytime. I will personally sponsor your travel to New York City and host you at New York University for an open forum. If New York is too far, I will gladly bring you to my village of Demirhisar in Rize’s Cayeli district. Perhaps the breathtaking beauty of the Black Sea, my village of Demirhisar and the sincere hospitality of our people will soften the bitterness in your heart toward the freely elected government of the Republic of Türkiye founded by none other than Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself. Until then, I urge you to raise your critique with honesty and clarity not with the language of exclusion, not with personal insults, and certainly not with a tone that denies others their right to hold a different view point.

And if we are to elevate the our NATO ally of the  Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s Turkiye, it will not be through despairing editorials and historical amnesia , but through unity, reform, pride, and above all, honesty.

Ibrahim Kurtulus
Demirhisar Koy  – Rize – Cayeli
New York

Letter to Dr Mustafa Atac

Subject: A Respectful Yet Firm Rebuttal on Your Recent Reflections on the Republic of Türkiye

Dear Dr. Atac,

With the utmost respect for your passion and your well intentioned concern for the homeland we both deeply cherish, I must address your recent commentary on the current state of the Republic of Türkiye. Your reflections, though emotionally evocative, are unfortunately steeped in exaggeration, devoid of contextual accuracy, and risk doing grave disservice to the proud, sovereign nation that has emerged from the very ashes you so eloquently reference.

Mr. Atac perhaps you have not see Türkiye A Nation That Rose and Continues to Rise , Indeed, the early decades of the Republic under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk were miraculous in their achievements turning a war ravaged people innto builders of a modern state. That same spirit of resilience has never faded. Rather than “becoming another Afghanistan,” as you hastily assert, Türkiye has firmly anchored itself in the transatlantic community and remains a pivotal NATO member one whose soldiers bled beside Americans in Korea and wrote history with their blood on the lands of Korea , stood guard during the Cold War, fought in Kosovo, and continue to play vital roles in global peacekeeping efforts today.

Let us not forget that Türkiye was the first Muslim majority country to join NATO in 1952, and it has since become Europe’s second largest standing army in the alliance. Türkiye has actively hosted and supported NATO operations, integrated into Western defense and economic institutions, and played a stabilizing role in a volatile region bordering Syria, Iraq, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea.

A Functional Democracy with Complex Realities, while no democracy is immune to criticism or challenge including the Türkiye ,United States, the United Kingdom, or France it is whollly inaccurate and unjust to declere that Türkiye is a dictatorship or that its people live in the “Middle Ages.” That is such a insult to all the Kefeniz Yatanlar icin. 

Quoting Time Magazine: “Türkiye is no Russia. It remains, in form and function, a democracy—albeit a troubled one. Its press is loud, its opposition exists, its people vote—and those votes matter. Even at its most strained, Türkiye has institutions and civil society mechanisms that remain active and alive.” (Time, “Türkiye Is No Russia,” 2023)

You lament the state of education yet fail to acknowledge that Türkiye today has over 200 universities, millions of higher education students, and one of the highest female university enrollment rates in the Islamic world. Turkish universities collaborate globally; Turkish students and professionals excel in NATO, EU programs, and academic exchanges across Europe and the United States.

You claim the justice system is “non-existent,” but Türkiye continues to be party to European Court of Human Rights jurisdiction and has recently passed significant reforms on bar associations and judicial independence.

You assert that the country is bankrupt, ignoring that Türkiye’s economy remains in the G20, has a vibrant export sector, and is undergoing one of the most ambitious green and digital transitions in its region. Türkiye is one of the top global drone producers—a sector that didn’t exist a decade ago and now dominates headlines from Ukraine to Africa.

Living in Denial or Refusing to Acknowledge the Present?

To suggest that there is nothing in today’s Türkiye to be proud of is a statement unworthy of your intellect- I feel you just have a personal manner. Such hyperbole may win applause in ideological circles or if people who have the venom of hate dipping from their lips like yours, but it belies both fairness and fact. You write as though the past glories exist in a vacuum, unconnected to the present. But the Türkiye of today is not a break from its proud foundations; it is the continuation of a legacy, shaped by changing times, national security threats, refugee crises, and geopolitical recalibration.

The founder of the  Republic, the Great Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was not afraid of adaptation. He was a realist, a reformer, and a strategist. He understood that the strength of a nation lies not only in its foundations but in its ability to evolve.

Your claim that the United States “found and manipulated” the current leadership is not only irresponsible but mirrors the very conspiracies that have hindered Türkiye’s efforts at self-determination since the Cold War. It suggests a dangerously colonial lens, denying the Turkish electorate its democratic will.

Final Thoughts

Dr. Ataç, I urge you respectfully to reengage with the realities of the present day. One can critique without defaming; one can mourn certain trends without dismissing decades of progress. Türkiye is not perfect no nation is but it is far from the caricature you paint.

The Republic of Türkiye stands today with a resilient economy, a strategic geopolitical role, a proud and conscious youth, and an evolving democracy with a proud people that wrote history just resently on July 15 2016 with their blood. That is a source of immense national pride, not despair. Sir,

Respectfully,

Ibrahim Kurtulus
Demirhisar Koyu – Rize Cayeli 
New York

When you think of disruptive military forces, your mind might immediately leap to the United States or China. But the country quietly and at times assertively redefining modern warfare today is neither of those global giants. It’s Türkiye. Yes, Türkiye the same nation you may associate with baklava, ancient civilizations, and passionate online debates has transformed into a military and geopolitical force that global strategists can no longer afford to underestimate or ignore.

Beneath the noise of trending hashtags and diplomatic headlines lies a profound reality: Türkiye is no longer a passive player in global affairs. It is rewriting the rules of power projection with an indigenous drone industry that has altered battlefields, a navy asserting itself across multiple seas, and a rapidly maturing defense sector that is shedding dependence on traditional allies. This isn’t posturing for attention this is strategic recalibration.

For much of the post-Cold War era, Türkiye a  modest NATO member securing the alliance’s southeastern flank useful, certainly, but never quite the innovator. That perception is obsolete. Over the past 15 years, Türkiye has undergone a dramatic strategic transformation, replacing its cautious diplomacy with a more assertive vision driven by nationalism, autonomy, and an ambition to recalibrate regional balances. Ankara’s reach now extends beyond its immediate neighborhood, with influence sought in the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, the Mediterranean, and even sub-Saharan Africa. The Turkish Armed Forces have become its sharpest tool in pursuit of these aims.

Türkiye today is the mind of the 21st century a nation of conscience, ambition, and experience. It draws upon its Anatolian roots, strategic wisdom, and humanitarian vision to act not merely as a regional actor, but as a rising global one. It has passed the threshold of no return Türkiye is no longer a country that others can afford to view through outdated lenses. Those in the region who have grown accustomed to inertia or empty threats must now recognize they are contending with a force of readiness, resilience, and historical memory.

For those who believe Türkiye is just another regional power: take note. This is not a country that simply defends; it has mastered the art of projection. And history has shown from Çanakkale in World War I to today’s modern battlefields that Turks do not just fight; they fight with honor, purpose, and resolve.

But military ambition is meaningless without the capacity to match it and Türkiye has invested heavily in building that capacity. Let’s start with drones. If you’ve heard of the Bayraktar TB2, you’ll know it has become the poster child for Türkiye’s defense revolution. If not, ask the tanks it has neutralized. Affordable, lethal, and game-changing, these domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been deployed with decisive effect in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh. Their success has disrupted the traditional model of air superiority, proving that agility and innovation can rival sheer size.

And the TB2 was just the beginning. Türkiye’s drone ecosystem is now expanding rapidly, with high-altitude long-endurance platforms like Akıncı and next-generation jet-powered drones like Kızılelma in development. This isn’t just innovation it’s national determination in motion. Unlike traditional defense buyers that depend on foreign suppliers, Türkiye has embraced an indigenous production strategy. In the early 2000s, only 20% of its defense equipment was produced locally; today, that figure exceeds 87%. Missiles, armored vehicles, warships, and even fifthh generation fighter jets like the newly unveiled KAAN are now Turkish built. And this isn’t just about military autonomy; it’s about geopolitical leverage.

When foreign partners like Germany withheld parts for tanks, Türkiye didn’t plead. It manufactured its own. The lesson: resilience in the face of restriction. Turkish defense exports surpassed $9 billion in 2024 estimated in 2025 to excide $12 billion , reaching over 170 countries. That’s not just an economic achievement it’s a strategic network embedded across continents.

Beyond drones and exports, Türkiye maintains the second  most powerful largest standing army in NATO, with over 475,000 active personnel. But numbers are only part of the story. What sets Türkiye apart is its operational tempo. Unlike many Western militaries that rotate deployments infrequently, Türkiye’s forces have been  constantly active  since the Korean War or whether in Syria, Iraq, Libya, or Azerbaijan. This isn’t symbolic presence; it’s decisive engagement. And the Turkish Navy? Guided by the ambitious “Blue Homeland” doctrine, it now patrols the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas with increasing assertiveness leading to tense encounters with Greece, the South Cyprus administration, and even France. Turkish naval vessels likely used electronic countermeasures (ECM) to obscure the French ship’s tracking ability. The “Aselsan ARES-2N” and “EDM systems” on Turkish warships are designed to jam and deceive hostile radar or guidance systems. Such push back showed Turkish assertiveness in deep waters.

One milestone: the TCG Anadolu, Türkiye’s domestically built aircraft carrier, designed to deploy drones yes, a drone carrier. Türkiye isn’t replicating old models. It’s shaping new ones.

This global footpriint extends further. In Somalia, Türkiye has established its largest overseas base, training the Somali National Army. In Libya, Turkish forces altered the trajectory of the Tripoli government’s survival. In the Caucasus, Türkiye’s military support helped Azerbaijan prevail in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, sending a strong signal to both Russia and Iran. Each deployment expands Ankara’s political capital and strategic relevance.

Yet, Türkiye’s new defanse posture has created a complex dynamic within NATO. It remains a member of the alliance hosting U.S. nuclear weapons while simultaneously purchasing Russian S-400 missile systems. It blocks NATO expansion at critical junctures, extracting political concessions, and at times charting an independent course that challenges alliance cohesion. But NATO cannot afford to dismiss Türkiye. Its geography, control over Black Sea access via the Bosphorus, militaary capabilities, and intelligence footprint make it indispensable. Türkiye is the unpredictable yet essential player like a star quarterback who insists on running his own plays.

The bottom line remains: Türkiye is not merely building a modern military. It is reimagining the concept of state power. Prioritizing cost effective innovation over bloated prestige platforms. Embracing sovereignty in production over dependency. Deploying with purpose over symbolic alignment. This approach is working for now and it has positioned Türkiye as a pivotal force in 21st-century geopolitics.

The paradox? In seeking autonomy, Türkiye has made itself more central to the global order. Its actions demand attention. Its choices shape regional trajectories. It is the chess player you underestimated one whose unorthodox moves continue to yield results at the table.

So the next time you hear the buzz of a drone, glance up. If it says “Made in Türkiye,” know that it signals more than just technological prowess. It represents a country that no longer walks in anyone’s shadow a Türkiye that is ready to lead and ones in the region should be very careful in not pushing Turkiye.

Because this is not our grandfather’s Türkiye any more.

Ibrahim Kurtulus 
Demirhisar Koyu – Rize – Cayeli 
New York.