Turkey Bets on Naval Clout for Edge in High-Seas Power Play
- Ankara’s building warships, submarines and an aircraft carrier
- Military backs up foreign policy in Mediterranean and beyond
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When Turkey’s navy welcomed two new ships to its fleet this month, officials left no doubt about the scale of their mission – or its geopolitical ambition.
The 3,000-ton frigates “will represent our nation’s power and determination in the world’s seas,” Haluk Gorgun, head of the presidency’s Secretariat of Defense Industries, said at a ceremony to mark the launch. “Turkey is taking firm steps to become a country that’s strong at sea, with deterrence in the field and a voice at the table.”