The Turkish Ambassador Writes | Celebrating Victory Day: The Will of a Nation... A Century of Achievements

Today, as we proudly celebrate the 104th anniversary of the Victory Day of the Turkish Republic, we recall a pivotal milestone in our nation’s history. On August 30, 1922, under the leadership of the founder of the Turkish Republic and its first president, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish nation achieved a decisive victory in its struggle for independence, paving the way for the establishment of the Turkish Republic. This historic victory also became a source of inspiration for many nations around the world seeking freedom and sovereignty.

A century and four years later, the same spirit of determination continues to guide Turkey’s path. This spirit is evident today in the strength of the Turkish Armed Forces, the remarkable transformation witnessed by our defense industry, and Turkey’s growing contribution to achieving peace and security at both the regional and international levels.

Over the past two decades, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has succeeded in transforming its defense industry into an integrated and globally competitive system capable of designing and manufacturing advanced systems across land, air, and sea domains.

The figures illustrate the scale of this transformation. Over the past decade, Turkish defense industry companies exported their products to 185 countries. In 2025, our defense and aerospace exports surpassed the ten-billion-dollar mark for the first time, reaching $10.054 billion. Moreover, Turkey has become the country with the largest increase in defense exports when comparing the past decade with the preceding one.

Our achievements in unmanned aerial systems deserve special attention; Turkey currently holds approximately 65 percent of the global market for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Turkey’s rising international standing is also reflected in the 2025 Defense News Top 100 list, which included five Turkish companies: ASELSAN at rank 43, TUSAŞ / Turkish Aerospace Industries at rank 47, ROKETSAN at rank 71, ASFAT at rank 78, and MKE at rank 80. Consequently, Turkey has become one of only five countries in the world to have five or more companies featured on this list.

From the KAAN and HÜRJET fighters to the Bayraktar TB2, ANKA, AKINCI, and KIZILELMA unmanned aerial vehicles, and from the domestically produced ALTAY tank to the MILGEM warships and the unmanned aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu, this diversity of platforms serves as clear evidence of the technological expertise and industrial capacity that Turkey has developed over a relatively short period.

This technological transformation is accompanied by the growing capabilities and international role of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Guided by our firm commitment to the principle of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World,” established by our Republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and within the framework of President Erdoğan’s vision of the “Turkey of the Century,” we continue to invest in both our armed forces and our defense industry. The Turkish Land, Naval, and Air Forces, as well as the Gendarmerie, rely heavily on domestic and national systems, making our security and armed forces a living testament to the achievements of our defense industry.

Furthermore, as Turkey holds the second-largest army in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and ranks ninth globally in terms of military strength, it has long played a fundamental role as a pillar of security on NATO’s southeastern flank. As President Erdoğan has affirmed: “The Turkish Army is an army for peace.”

Today, Turkish soldiers are deployed in various regions around the world through NATO missions, multilateral peacekeeping operations, and bilateral training and cooperation activities. Wherever they carry out their duties, their contributions extend beyond mere military presence; they contribute to achieving peace and stability, enhance the capabilities of our partners and allies, and help provide a secure environment in which communities and regions can thrive.

On the other hand, as threats to regional and global security continue to rise, the Joint Defense Agreement (JDA) between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan reflects a shared sense of responsibility toward regional security, stability, prosperity, and a common future.

The Joint Defense Agreement is based on the principles of sovereignty, mutual commitment, and equal participation in decision-making, and it provides an open and comprehensive platform for cooperation with regional parties committed to international law and sharing these principles. The objective is to strengthen regional security responsibility, thereby contributing to the establishment of a predictable system that enhances security, stability, and prosperity for the peoples of the region.

In this context, we believe that countries such as the State of Kuwait, which places great importance on peace, stability, and dialogue at the regional level, play a significant role in strengthening regional security responsibility.

This approach also lies at the heart of our relations with our friendly and sisterly State of Kuwait. Turkey and Kuwait share a firm commitment to achieving peace and stability in the region. We both attach great importance to dialogue, mediation, and peace, while recognizing the importance of enhancing national defense capabilities in an increasingly challenging security environment.

Accordingly, defense cooperation has become one of the key pillars of our bilateral relations. The acquisition by the State of Kuwait of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles in 2023 marked an important milestone in this path. This was followed by the signing of a procurement protocol in the defense industries sector between the two governments during the historic visit to Turkey by His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in May 2024.

This cooperation has been further strengthened through intensive exchanges of high-level visits. His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the State of Kuwait on October 21, 2025, while the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited Turkey twice, on May 4 and July 6, 2026.

These meetings were further crowned by the visit of the Kuwaiti Minister of Defense, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Salim Al-Sabah, to attend the SAHA Expo for Defense Industries on May 6, 2026, alongside the official visit to Turkey by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Khaled Al-Sharhan, on July 16, 2026.

We are confident that enhancing cooperation between Turkey and Kuwait will not only contribute to the security of our two countries but will also promote peace, stability, and prosperity in our broader region.

As I approach the end of my tenure as Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the State of Kuwait, it has been a pleasure to witness the steady progress achieved in the relations between our brotherly countries. I am confident that the foundations we have laid together, including in the defense sector, will continue to be strengthened, consolidated, and flourish in the years to come.

On this glorious national occasion, I recall with reverence and gratitude Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, our noble martyrs, and our veteran soldiers, and I extend greetings to all members of the Turkish security forces and armed forces who serve our nation with honor and dedication, both domestically and abroad.

May God Almighty protect Turkey and Kuwait from all harm, and may He strengthen and perpetuate the enduring bonds of friendship and brotherhood between our two peoples and our two countries.

On the occasion of Victory Day on August 30, we extend our best wishes to the Turkish Republic and its people for continued prosperity and well-being.