The TRNC detail drew attention between the lines of the new statement, which hit the Turkish media like a bombshell, especially the “NOTA release” regarding the Black Sea.
Commander of the Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, made important statements regarding the security of the Black Sea. Tatlıoğlu said, “There are various problems in the Black Sea Region. NATO is trying to take some measures in the Black Sea. However, we state 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.”
Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu stated that while Greece’s number of ships was much lower than Turkey’s, it is now almost at the same level, and said, “Therefore, we have ship needs on various platforms. We carry out our activities all over the world.”
Tatlıoğlu said that after starting to fight against irregular migration, the number of immigrants decreased by 98 percent.
Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu said, “We are building a new naval base in Cyprus, in the Northeast of Famagusta. Turkish Naval Forces will be stationed there permanently.” said.
“WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE AIR DEFENSE OF THE LIBYA REGION WITH OUR 2 SHIPS”
“We are very determined in our activities. As the Naval Forces, we protect our rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea,” said Admiral Tatlıoğlu, adding, “We sent our ships to Libya regarding the Libyan events. We sent 4 frigates from the beginning. These are Haftar’s large UAVs.” “We shot down 3 of them with the guided missiles we fired from our frigates. We are currently providing support to the air defense of the Libyan region with 2 of our ships. We had a hard time. They had to perform these duties for 6 months without landing,” he said.
In the program, Rector of National Defense University Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu also made a speech. The program in the hall ended with the singing of military anthems.
Planes and helicopters accompanied the ceremonial march held within the framework of the events.
Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu said, “Our goal is to ensure that Montreux is respected. We, as Turkey, ensure 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.”
A ceremony was held at the National Defense University (MSÜ) Naval Petty Officer Vocational School on the occasion of the 133rd anniversary of the establishment of Naval Petty Officer Schools. Speaking at the ceremony, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu gave information about the events taking place around Turkey and the work carried out by the Naval Forces. Reminding that there have been very important economic developments in the Black Sea recently and that there are 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the Western Black Sea, Tatlıoğlu said, “Currently, the Black Sea has even greater importance for us in economic terms. We are constantly present to continue our activities in the Black Sea.” We continue to be increasingly present in the region with our ships to maintain security and stability in the Black Sea. There are various problems in the Black Sea region, as you know. The tensions that started with Georgia and Russia in 2008, South Ossetia, North Ossetia problems, Abkhazia, the same problems, the occupation of Crimea. The 2014, 2018 Kerch Strait and the Ukraine-Russia War, which started again in 2022, 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 stated that we will take these measures ourselves in the Black Sea and forced NATO to do so. “We declare that we do not want America in the Black Sea,” he said.
“THEY SHOULD NOT TURN THE BLACK SEA INTO A MIDDLE EAST”
Reminding that there were more than 400 mines spilled into the Black Sea from the Ukraine – Russia War, Tatlıoğlu said that 17 of them reached the Turkish coast. Explaining that they are trying to prevent mines from damaging drilling ships, Tatlıoğlu said:
“Therefore, we are in a very serious struggle in the Black Sea. We also secure the grain corridor in the Black Sea. Although the grain corridor was closed in 2023, attempts are continuing to reopen it. All mine-related dangers in this grain corridor are protected by the Navy. “We are eliminating it. Our goal is to ensure that Montreux is respected. As Turkey, we ensure 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 INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE TENSION”
Pointing out that there has been no Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea throughout history, Tatlıoğlu explained what happened in the Aegean throughout history. Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu stated that there are 8 main problems with Greece, 7 of which are related to the Naval Forces and said:
“Instead of making efforts to resolve these issues, Greece is constantly engaging in activities that increase tension. For example, it is gradually increasing its defense budget. In France, it is purchasing 4 Belharra Class frigates. It was going to purchase 18, it increased by 6 more, and it is purchasing 24 Rafale aircraft. The USA has become our neighbor in the west. 3 It has a large base in Greece right now. There are islands with non-military status. 23 of these islands are armed, 19 of them are armed. We have islands and rocks whose sovereignty and belonging are disputed. They are trying to show them off as their own by arranging visits to them as if they were their own islands. On the one hand, they are trying to present a suitable environment. “They are trying to dictate their own strategies when they are found. Greece increased its western territorial waters to 12 miles in 2020. It is trying to give this message. If I get the opportunity, I will increase it to 12 miles in the Aegean as well.”
Stating that Greece is trying to prove that the islands belong to them, with the support of the European Union, Tatlıoğlu said, “They are constantly harassing our maritime patrol planes, airplanes, helicopters and ships. There are 32 harassments in total and these harassments continue to increase. We in Libya We support the legitimate government. However, France and Greece have launched an operation to prevent this support. 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 off our contact with Libya by carrying out an operation in the north of Libya. “Another activity that escalates tension is by declaring various areas in the Aegean Sea and preventing us from using the Aegean Sea by saying that I will conduct training in these areas,” he said.
“THEY INTEND TO DETER US AND THE TURKISH NAVAL FORCES BY CONDUCTING JOINT EXERCISES”
Emphasizing that there are various problems in the Mediterranean, Tatlıoğlu stated that there is a significant amount of natural gas and oil in 3 basins in the Eastern Mediterranean. Stating that there is a power struggle in the Eastern Mediterranean for this reason, Tatlıoğlu continued as follows:
“No state in the Eastern Mediterranean can declare maritime jurisdiction on its own. Because there are too many countries and they have interlocking jurisdictions. The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus has declared various maritime jurisdictions in the south of Cyprus, and Greece has declared various maritime jurisdictions in the south of Crete. In the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Israel and Egypt have formed a bloc against Turkey. The biggest support for this bloc is France and America. With this support, Turkey is given They are in a bloc. They intend to deter us and the Turkish Naval Forces by conducting joint exercises. Greece’s aim is to take on the role of regional leadership. Greece has a double standard in all its practices. For example, while it determines maritime jurisdictions with Italy, it does not grant maritime jurisdictions to its own islands. “, he says that the islands do not have maritime jurisdiction. When he makes such an agreement with us, he wants 41 thousand square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction for the 10 square kilometer Meis island.”
ITALIAN SHIPS WERE BLOCKED
Admiral Tatlıoğlu stated 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 and said, “They are also using Italy. Italian ships came, they said they wanted to work within the framework of the Eastmed Project, but we blocked it. We said we cannot accept it.” “Because we know that this is Greece’s project. We did not allow it within our own maritime jurisdiction,” he said.
“THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS OBSTACLES THAT BROUGHT US TO THE VERGE OF WAR”
Explaining that they will not let anyone into the field that Turkey 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 gave the fields to the Turkish Petroleum Joint Stock Company to conduct exploration.” We have given permission. We are doing natural gas and oil exploration in these fields. They also want to do natural gas and oil exploration in the same fields. We have blocked a total of 35 ships so far. You must be following these blocks from time to time in the press. Some of them are not given to the press. These are very serious blocks that bring us to the brink of war. We ourselves “In addition to blocking them, we continue to explore for natural gas and oil here on our own continental shelf,” he said.
“WE DO NOT WANT A POWER THAT COULD CREATE A THREAT TO TURKEY TO COME TO ANY PART OF CYPRUS”
“Cyprus is again a separate problem area with Greece,” said Tatlıoğlu, adding, “Cyprus is very important to us. As we know, it is the third largest island of the Mediterranean. It is in a very strategic place. It is very important in terms of being close to the Suez Canal and controlling the entire Eastern Mediterranean.” important. 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, in Cyprus “We do not accept any solution other than the 2-state solution,” he said. (Cyprus Post)
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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