Turkish Forum

Category: Authors

  • Türkiye’s Truest Brother

    Türkiye’s Truest Brother

    Dr. Suhail Muzafer & Omer Qadri . Pakistan / Türkiye’s Truest Brother

    Türkiye’s Truest Brother — The Everlasting Bond with Pakistan

    In the long and storied history of the Turkish Republic, there exists a special chapter that cannot be written without the name of Pakistan inscribed with gold. It is a story of brotherhood beyond borders, of love deeper than blood, and of solidarity that has weathered every storm. Among the many shining examples of this enduring friendship, the life and legacy of Abdurrahman Peshawari stands tall  a hero, a journalist, a soldier, and most of all, a devoted friend of Türkiye.

    Born in 1886 in Peshawar, then part of British India, Abdurrahman Peshawari left behind a life of comfort and privilege to support the Ottoman Empire during one of its darkest chapters. He was among the very first from the Indian subcontinent to respond to the Ottoman call for help during the Balkan Wars. He traveled first as part of a medical team to treat wounded Ottoman soldiers, but when the call came again, this time during Türkiye’s War of Independence, he didn’t hesitate. He returned  not as a doctor or journalist, but as a soldier  standing shoulder to shoulder with his Turkish brothers, defending Anatolian soil from foreign invaders.

    Peshawari became one of the first war correspondents from the Indian subcontinent to cover the Turkish War of Independence. Eventually, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk appointed him as the Turkish Ambassador to Afghanistan  a post that symbolized the mutual trust and admiration between Türkiye and the Muslim world.

    But Peshawari was not alone in his love. He carried the spirit of millions of Pakistanis, who  long before their nation was born  considered Türkiye not just an ally, but family. During World War I, it was the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the Indian subcontinent who gave up their mehr (dowry), their gold bracelets, and the heirlooms handed down for generations. Without a blink of an eye, they sent their treasures to Istanbul  not out of charity, but out of love. That moment defined the spirit of Pakistan’s people  selfless, honorable, and forever loyal to Türkiye.

    A hundred years later, this sacred bond remains unbreakable.

    Just recently, during the devastating earthquakes that shook southeastern Türkiye and claimed tens of thousands of lives, it was again our Pakistani brothers and sisters who were among the first to respond. Across Pakistan, from Karachi to Islamabad, people opened their hearts and their wallets. On Staten Island, New York  I personally witnessed the outpouring of love from Masjid Un-Noor, led by our dear brother Dr. Suhail Muzafer and his nephew Omer Qadri . This community alone raised $25,000, which was used for earthquake victims and also desperatlly need blankets and supplies plus  raising an additional  $8500 which provide Iftar and Sahur meals for nearly half of the blessed month of Ramazan in Gaziantep, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquakes intotalling almost $50,000 in aid. This wasn’t aid  it was family coming to the aid of family right from Masjid Un-Noor, led by our dear brother Dr. Suhail Muzafer and his nephew Omer Qadri. .

    Today, many Turks I have spoken to, in cities large and small, say with full conviction: An attack on Pakistan is an attack on Türkiye. This is not just a phrase — it is a creed. It speaks to the depth of respect and mutual protection that binds our two nations. Türkiye has no closer partner, no more loyal friend, and no dearer brother than the people and government of Pakistan.

    This bond extends to the Turkish-American and Pakistani-American communities right here in New York. At every Turkish flag raising on Wall Street, we are joined without fail by our beloved brother Inspector Adeel Rana, the first Pakistani-American promoted to the rank of Inspector in the NYPD. A community leader beloved by New Yorkers of every background, Inspector Rana’s steadfast presence with the Turkish community during every national event is a reflection of his deep devotion and of the love between our people. Standing with him are other pillars of unity Javed Gujjar, Afzal Ansari, and many more  Pakistani brothers who stand for compassion, shared values, and the unbreakable brotherhood between our nations.

    Whenever I walk into Masjid Un-Noor, our beloved Pakistani mosque, I am met with a love and respect that is truly beyond words. The moment I step through the door, our Pakistani brothers  doctors, business owners, and community members — pause whatever they are doing. Conversations stop, people rise, and without hesitation, they come forward one by one to embrace me. It feels as though I am being welcomed not just as a guest, but as if I were the President of Türkiye himself.

    Their warmth, their sincerity, their brotherhood  it moves me deeply every time. This is not something that can be easily described in writing. The love I feel from them is something that touches the heart in the most profound way. It is genuine, pure, and unforgettable. Dr. Suhail Muzafer, Omar, Javed Gujjar, Afzal Ansari. Thank you so much 

    From the trenches of Anatolia to the earthquake zones of modern Türkiye, from Istanbul to Islamabad, and from Wall Street to the mosques of Staten Island, our history has been one of togetherness.

    As we honor Abdurrahman Peshawari, we are also honoring every Pakistani heart that beats with love for Türkiye. We honor every mother who gave her gold, every soldier who prayed for our independence, and every child who learns of this sacred bond.

    Türkiye and Pakistan are not just allies  we are one soul in two bodies. And may that soul never be divided, never forget, and never stop loving.

    With eternal affection and deep gratitude to our Pakistani brothers and sisters,

    Respectfully,

    Ibrahim Kurtulus
    Community Advocate & Friend of the Pakistani-Turkish Brotherhood

    Demirhisar Koy – Rize – Cayeli

    Staten Island, New York

  • Türkiye is economically isolated, diplomatically desperate, and intellectually bankrupt. Are they true?

    Türkiye is economically isolated, diplomatically desperate, and intellectually bankrupt. Are they true?

    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

    Türkiye Is Not Our Grandfathers’ Türkiye — A Necessary Clarification
  • Türkiye Is Not Our Grandfathers’ Türkiye — A Necessary Clarification

    Türkiye Is Not Our Grandfathers’ Türkiye — A Necessary Clarification

    Dear Mr. Kurtuluş,

    Thank you for your impassioned reply. If nothing else, it confirms what I have long feared: that too many now confuse performative patriotism with loyalty to one undeserving man, and sloganism with substance.

    I regret to say that I do not agree with a single word in your letter.

    On the contrary, your response reads less as a sincere defense of the Republic and more as the language of a regime apologist—whether by conviction or convenience. Your portrayal of governance in today’s Türkiye aligns more with the narrative of a hired mouthpiece or ideological servant of what I now refer to as the Tayyiban regime than with any objective or patriotic critique.

    Consider the economic reality: Türkiye currently pays among the highest interest rates in the world and still struggles to attract lenders. Why? Because trust, accountability, and institutional integrity have been eroded to the point of exclusion from serious international financial circles. Instead, we see desperate alliances with countries like Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain; nations known more for financial mediation than for long-term, principled partnership.

    Our education system has been reduced to an echo chamber. Not a single Turkish university ranks in the world’s top 500—and many fail to appear in the top 1,000 altogether. What was once a project of enlightenment has become a caricature, closer to a madrassa than a modern institution of higher learning.

    Meanwhile, our prisons are filled with citizens whose only crime is having dared to criticize those in power. Academics, journalists, elected officials, swept aside not by law, but by fear and vengeance. The list of moral disgraces grows longer by the day.

    Let me make one thing unequivocally clear, Mr. Kurtuluş:

    I am among those who proudly and without hesitation declare, “Ne mutlu Türküm diyene!”

    But I will never align myself with those who turn that phrase into a weapon of exclusion, who celebrate, excuse, or even dance beside the mercenaries responsible for the deaths of more than 60,000 innocent Turkish citizens at the hands of terror.

    Your letter reveals a deeply distorted and dangerous worldview, one that equates dissent with betrayal and reduces patriotic concern to treachery. This logic does not protect the Republic; it endangers it, every single day.

    Let me begin then, with the plain facts you seem unwilling to confront: criticism of a government is not treason. It is the duty of every citizen who still believes in the values of the Republic, not to bow, but to question; not to blindly cheer, but to hold power accountable. If pointing out incompetence, repression, and international isolation is enough to be branded a traitor, then the bar for national loyalty has been tragically lowered.

    You claim Türkiye has “risen” because it participates in NATO, has a drone industry, or sits at the G20 table. These are technical indicators which had been there since long, not proof of institutional health, human dignity, or moral progress. North Korea has nuclear capacity. Russia is in the G20. Shall we take our civic cues from them?

    The reality is more sobering:

    • Our universities no longer rank among the world’s top 500.
    • Our judiciary is weakened, our media largely silenced, and our economy increasingly reliant on authoritarian regimes.
    • We imprison journalists, academics, and elected officials, not for acts of violence or fraud, but for dissent.
    • And perhaps most devastatingly, we confuse loyalty to a leader with love for our country.

    Just to remind you further of the world classifications allowed by Erdoğan’s regime:

    • 103rd in the democracy index,
    • 159th in press freedom,
    • 117th in rule of law,
    • 107th in corruption perception,
    • And alarmingly, 14th in the world and 1st in Europe for organized crime.And yet, Erdogan expects us to believe that this country is prepared for full European Union membership, as if statistics are slander and truth can be negotiated. He just makes Türkiye a joke for the World!

    You accuse me of failing to evolve. On the contrary, Mr. Kurtuluş, I am refusing to devolve into sycophancy, selective memory, or blind nationalism in the failed description of a man who has zero attachment to patriotism or Nationalism.

    Atatürk’s vision was not one of flags and empty slogans. It was a call to enlightenment, reason, law, and civic virtue. His reforms were not meant to be embalmed in ceremony; they were meant to live, to grow, to be defended.

    You suggest I write with venom. I write with grief for what we’ve lost, and for what we’ve allowed ourselves to become.

    I write not, dare not and ever insult Türkiye, but criticize and blame the traitors  better for it. 

    If that offends you, so be it. But know this:

    The love I hold for Türkiye is not loud, but it is loyal.

    Not boastful, but rooted in truth.

    Not nostalgic, but unwilling to glorify a present that punishes honesty and rewards obedience.

    Final thought, Mr. Kurtuluş:

    There is no pride in mistaking dissent for disloyalty.

    And there is no future in clinging to selective triumphalism while silencing the very voices that once built this Republic.

    The Türkiye I believe in and still fight for, is one where citizens never again have to choose between conscience and country, Democracy and a backward tyron. 

    Respectfully,

    Dr. Mustafa Ataç

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

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

    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

    That was the Türkiye of the past!
  • That was the Türkiye of the past!

    That was the Türkiye of the past!

    It is sadly and regretfully not the glorious, victorious Türkiye who rase from her ashes following the Second World War, that we see now but a totally different one!

    Took off from the ruins of a backward, illiterate, humiliated Empire and yet turned to be victorious within a lightening speed.

    That was the Türkiye of the past!

    Türkiye is Not Our Grandfather’s Türkiye

    No Country in the World had shown similar recovery in such a spectacular way and speed.

    Please show me just one, throughout the History?

    In brief, from humiliated losers to Victorious founders of Republic of Türkiye. 

    Then the founding of a fresh, dynamic young Republic, built by the TURKISH people, who proudly shouted from their chests, proud to be a TURK, regardless of their ethnicity!

    From a traitor Sultan of an aging, ailing backward, crippling Khalifate to a modern, progressive, respected Republic of Türkiye.

    There is not a single Leader, King, President, Emperor, Commander or ruler, who is truly worshipped by millions,still, even 85 years of his death! 

    Generations worship his wisdom, progressive, peaceful and constructive past.

    Short while before his death, had a lengthy conversation with General MacArthur where he predicted the beginning and the end of the second World War.

    His will to the young Republic of Türkiye, “Peace in the Country and Peace in the World” saved our beautiful Country from all the evil most of the World suffered!

    As a NATION we are grateful to HİM!

    I doubt if there is any leader where any number of books written about him can even come close to his.

    The name of the founder of the past of glorious Republic of Türkiye is Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK.

    The whole World understood, praised and awarded him as the Statesman of the Century. 

    Yes, apparently having no clue of the past of the Republic and what Türkiye went through and how it had been destroyed by the radical İslamists with the help of our friends and allies will not have a clue and think that Turkiye is as described as in the text below.

    The Türkiye of now is Bankrupt, where the majority of the people are living below the poverty line, education is literally in the middle ages, Justice is minced and non existent, one can build Universities from the unjustly detained literate, educated people. Majority of the publicly elected Majors are detained and the innocent protests are crushed with brutal force.

    The Country suffers the worst of a dictatorship!

    I, as a Turk see or have nothing to be proud of the current disastrous situation of the beautiful Country called Türkiye!

    Today’s Türkiye is on the path of becoming another Afghanistan!

    Radical, İslamic ruled and predominantly İslamic clerics in the helm.

    There is the rule of Taliban and in Türkiye the rule of one man called Tayyiban!

    Strange isn’t it! Just like his predecessors, he is also found, doctrinated, manipulated, used as a trigger to destabilize the Country, Türkiye and the Region by our friend, indispensible ally, leader of the World Democracy and the free World, USA! 

    All the so called the democratic, free World of the WEST and their populist politicians are digging a deeper grave with their ill fated and miserably dangerous policies!

    It is no one else but themselves to blame by creating and using such pawns and trying to wash brains for their doomed end!

    Truly sad for the bright, handsome and beautiful young generation.

    With these politicians, they don’t have a future!

    Dr.Mustafa Ataç

    Türkiye is Not Our Grandfather’s Türkiye
  • Türkiye is Not Our Grandfather’s Türkiye

    Türkiye is Not Our Grandfather’s Türkiye

    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.