Former Turkish Minister of Defense addresses regional claims and 1974 invasion

During sessions at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on November 4 and a parliamentary conference in Dublin, former Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar reiterated Turkey’s aggressive stances regarding the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus. Akar described the Libyan Parliament's approval of the 2019 memorandum as a significant strategic gain for Turkey in its competition with Greece, asserting that Turkey continues to protect its rights in the disputed maritime regions.

Regarding Cyprus, Akar claimed that the 1974 Turkish military operation was consistent with international law, citing an alleged decision by the Athens Court of Appeals based on the 1960 Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance. He reaffirmed Turkey's official position supporting a two-state solution for the island, insisting on sovereign equality and equal international status for the Turkish-occupied north. Additionally, he touted advancements in the Turkish defense industry, highlighting the mass production of tanks and the development of the HÜRKUŞ and KAAN aircraft projects.

These statements underscore Turkey's ongoing commitment to its current regional foreign policy, which challenges existing maritime boundaries and international consensus on the status of Cyprus. Akar’s references to domestic defense production capabilities serve as a signal of the country's intent to maintain its military assertiveness in the Eastern Mediterranean.