10 years after Türkiye’s defeated coup, spirit of July 15 endures

By Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President of the Republic of Türkiye

One of the most brutal coup attempts in Türkiye’s political history took place exactly 10 years ago, on July 15, 2016. Orchestrated by a terrorist network that had insidiously infiltrated the institutions of our state, this coup attempt sought to plunge Türkiye into years of chaos and subjugate the future of our nation.

By standing up to confront the coup plotters and defend their independence and future, our august nation demonstrated to the entire world through its heroic resistance that the will of the people can never be subjugated on these lands. Undoubtedly, the Turkish nation’s prudence, courage, and foresight on the night of July 15 are unparalleled in the history of world democracy.

This treacherous insurrection by the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) was far more than a conventional coup attempt; it was an all-out act of invasion directed against our country’s independence. The primary targets of the putschists were the emblematic institutions that embody the national will and our nation’s independence, namely the Presidential Complex and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

On the night of July 15, I stated publicly that I recognized no power greater than that of the people.

I made that statement with full confidence that the Turkish nation would stand firm in defense of its own will. Indeed, that very night, our people took to the streets with unwavering faith and determination, refusing to submit to the domination of this terrorist organization.

Risking their lives to defend their country’s independence, its democratic achievements, and its free will, our people repelled the putschists and wrote an epic of national will that will be remembered with pride for generations to come.

Inspired by the brave stance of our nation, we acted swiftly to eliminate the consequences of this treacherous insurrection. We promptly introduced comprehensive structural reforms to remove from all state institutions any antidemocratic formations that could threaten democratic governance through extra-political means.

We subsequently achieved critical successes through operations conducted both at home and abroad as part of our strategy to eliminate the other terrorist organizations we have been combating. Ultimately, we launched the Terror-Free Türkiye initiative, marking a new chapter in our nation’s story of unity and solidarity.

This process, one of the essential cornerstones of our “Century of Türkiye” vision, is, praise be to Allah, advancing steadily with an all-encompassing and inclusive approach through the diligence of our security forces and the support of the political establishment. I believe the success of the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process will contribute not only to the peace and tranquility of our country but also to that of our region.

As a result of our struggle against those who attempted this coup and targeted our country’s economic prosperity and development, we have taken significant steps toward a more prosperous future through projects in sectors such as energy, transportation, health care, agriculture, technology, and defense. Through the National Technology Move, we have made significant strides in the defense, aviation, and space industries over the past decade.

We have developed electric and smart transportation systems, and through substantial investment in health care and agriculture, we have strived to live up to the sacrifices of our people.

During this period, we have also developed national brands that have gained worldwide recognition. Among these are our electric automobile, TOGG; our national fighter aircraft, KAAN; our national corvettes; and our unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past 10 years, Türkiye has emerged as an effective actor in resolving crises and conflicts at both the regional and global levels, guided by an enterprising foreign policy approach. In every crisis, we have not hesitated to assume responsibility for maintaining peace and tranquility by supporting the oppressed and the righteous rather than the powerful.

Wherever there is oppression or injustice, we have been the voice of international law, justice, and conscience. If Türkiye is now regarded as a country whose contributions are sought, whose voice carries weight, and whose counsel is valued on regional and global matters, this success rests on the will of our august nation, which stood up for its independence and future at the cost of countless sacrifices on the night of July 15.

The fight against terrorism, in which international cooperation is essential, remains a central pillar of our foreign policy agenda. As is well known, the process of internal disintegration within FETO’s overseas network has accelerated over the past two years. That said, we are aware that some countries continue to provide covert support to this organization and harbor its members.

I would like to take this opportunity to underscore the need to remain vigilant against FETO, which considers all means permissible in pursuing its ambitions, adopts every possible guise, and does not hesitate to exploit every concept, including democracy, freedom, and human rights.

As a nation that saw 253 of its sons and daughters martyred by the putschists on the night of July 15, our foremost expectation of the international community is support for Türkiye’s legitimate struggle.

Global peace, security, and prosperity can be achieved only through a resolute and uncompromising fight against terrorist organizations, without distinction, and through sincere international cooperation.