Turkish President Erdogan addresses national security conference

On June 9, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the National Security Conferences. He emphasized the necessity for Turkey to maintain military, technological, and geopolitical strength to ensure national security. Erdogan stated that Ankara relies solely on its own capabilities and is actively shaping regional developments. He highlighted ongoing military operations in Iraq and Syria as a key component of the country's defense policy. Furthermore, the president identified modern security threats, including cyberattacks, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure protection. He reaffirmed the goal of the 'Century of Turkey' vision, which includes strengthening the domestic defense industry to reduce foreign reliance. The speech underscored Turkey's objective to remain a decisive actor in regional geopolitics through enhanced deterrence capabilities.