Hulusi Akar, the former Turkish Minister of National Defence and current Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, has issued a strongly worded statement regarding Turkey’s territorial and maritime ambitions, explicitly incorporating the occupied areas of Cyprus into his rhetoric.
Speaking on national security and regional policy, Akar asserted that any forces targeting Turkish territory, its maritime zones, or the breakaway regime in northern Cyprus would face severe military consequences.
Broadening the homeland definitions
During his address, Akar detailed the multi-layered concept of Turkish sovereignty, referencing the motherland, the celestial homeland, the digital homeland, and what Ankara calls the "baby homeland" in northern Cyprus. He underlined that Turkish soldiers remain prepared to act decisively against any perceived threats to these domains.
The veteran official reiterated the core tenets of the Blue Homeland doctrine, reinforcing Turkey's expansive maritime claims in the region. According to Akar, Turkey’s sovereign focus spans a landmass of 780,000 square kilometres alongside a maritime jurisdiction covering 462,000 square kilometres.
Stance on Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean
Akar focused significantly on regional disputes, stating that Ankara has not permitted, and will not permit, any infringement upon its self-proclaimed rights in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The statements underscore Turkey's ongoing political and military stance regarding regional energy resources and maritime borders, confirming that Ankara maintains its firm policy towards both Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.
