Speaking at the weekly press briefing held at the Ministry, Ministry of National Defense Press and Public Relations Advisor Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk stated that the Turkish Armed Forces continue their fight resolutely within and beyond the borders against threats to the country’s security. Referring to activities regarding border security, Aktürk said, “Within the scope of search-scan and border security activities carried out to establish permanent security throughout the week, cave, shelter and hideout detection, as well as mine and improvised explosive device detection and destruction operations, have been effectively conducted in the operation zones.”
Providing information on the data regarding the borders over the past week, Aktürk stated, “258 individuals, including 1 member of a terrorist organization, have been apprehended at our borders. The number of those apprehended while trying to cross our borders illegally from January 1st until today has reached 2,944. With 1,344 individuals prevented, the number of people prevented this year has reached 29,194.”
Over 10 thousand personnel from 50 countries participated in EFES-2026
Noting that the Turkish Armed Forces continue their training and exercise activities, Aktürk provided information regarding the EFES-2026 Combined, Joint and Live Fire Field Exercise conducted under the command and control of the Aegean Army Command. Aktürk stated, “Over 10 thousand personnel, including observers, units and elements from 50 countries, along with our national elements, are participating in the EFES-2026 Combined, Joint and Live Fire Field Exercise, which is being conducted between April 20th and May 21st.”
Stating that new systems will be used for the first time in the exercise, Aktürk said, “50 weapons and systems, including the Panter howitzer, Karaok anti-tank weapon, Special Purpose Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle, and the Karayel Keel boat, are being used for the first time in the EFES Exercise.”
Stating that defense industry products will also be exhibited within the scope of the exercise, Aktürk said, “In the exercise, which is planned to be held on Distinguished Observer Day on May 20-21, it is planned to open a defense industry exhibition where our domestic, national and modern technology defense industry products, which contribute to increasing the effectiveness and deterrence of our Turkish Armed Forces, will be displayed in a fair concept.”
Stating that systems developed in the Turkish defense industry continue to be added to the inventory, Aktürk said, “Our efforts to further increase the power and effectiveness of our Turkish Armed Forces with strategic and technological products developed domestically and nationally in every field of our defense industry continue. In this context, the inspection and acceptance activities for a certain quantity of Akıncı UAVs have been completed by our Air Force Command and they have been added to the inventory.”
Ships will be open to public visits within the scope of May 19th
“We congratulate our May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in advance,” said Aktürk, stating that within the scope of the celebrations, the Naval Forces Command will conduct 22 port visits with 30 ships, and the ships will be open to public visits. Aktürk also stated that demonstration flights will be conducted by the Turkish Stars in Çorum on May 16th, and by SOLOTÜRK and the Turkish Stars in Samsun on May 19th.
In the statement made by the Ministry of National Defense, it was reported that the Maritime Jurisdiction Areas Law study constitutes a framework regulation that will determine responsibilities in maritime jurisdiction areas and address deficiencies in domestic legislation, and that final work on the text of the law is ongoing.
Açıklamada, “Deniz Yetki Alanları Kanunu çalışması, denizlerimizdeki yetki alanlarımızdaki sorumlulukları belirleyecek ve iç hukuk mevzuatımızdaki eksiklikleri giderecek çerçeve bir yasa niteliğindedir” ifadeleri kullanıldı.
Bakanlığın söz konusu çalışmalara farklı düzeylerde katkı sunduğu belirtilen açıklamada, “Söz konusu kanun çalışmalarına Bakanlığımız tarafından askeri, teknik, akademik ve hukuki düzeyde katılım sağlanmış, katkılarımız ilgili kurumlara iletilmiştir. Bahse konu kanun metnine ilişkin nihai çalışmalar ülkemizin ilgili kurumları tarafından sürdürülmektedir. Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz, ülkemizin deniz yetki alanlarındaki hak ve menfaatlerini korumaya her zaman olduğu gibi kararlılıkla devam edecektir” denildi.
MSB, Belçika Savunma ve Dış Ticaret Bakanı ile Milli Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler arasında gerçekleştirilen görüşmelerin ardından imzalanan niyet mektubuyla iki ülke arasında savunma ve güvenlik alanındaki iş birliğinin geliştirilmesine yönelik karşılıklı iradenin teyit edildiğini bildirdi. Açıklamada, “Küresel ve bölgesel güvenlik ortamında yaşanan son gelişmeler, dost ve müttefik ülkeler arasında savunma alanındaki iş birliğinin güçlendirilmesini her zamankinden daha önemli hâle getirmektedir” ifadelerine yer verildi.
Açıklamada Belçika Savunma ve Dış Ticaret Bakanı ile Milli Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler arasında gerçekleştirilen görüşmelere ilişkin, “Bu çerçevede Belçika Savunma ve Dış Ticaret Bakanı ile Sayın Bakanımızın gerçekleştirdiği görüşmede ikili ve bölgesel güvenlik konuları görüşülmüş, savunma sanayii alanındaki iş birliği imkânları ele alınmıştır. İmzalanan Niyet Mektubu ile iki ülke arasında savunma ve güvenlik alanındaki iş birliğinin geliştirilmesine yönelik karşılıklı irade teyit edilmiştir” ifadeleri kullanıldı.
