Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly defended the country’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine following criticism from opposition lawmaker Namik Tan.
In a recent speech in parliament, Tan, a former Turkish ambassador to the United States, labeled the “Blue Homeland” strategy as “expansionist” and dismissed it as a “fairy tale.” He also criticized Turkey’s involvement in Somalia as an example of “expansionist politics,” a stance that sparked a strong response from Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his own Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The “Blue Homeland” doctrine aims to extend Turkish influence across significant portions of the Mediterranean and other seas, which could affect neighboring nations such as Greece and Somalia.
In a subsequent address to AKP provincial leaders, Erdogan condemned Tan’s remarks, accusing him of inconsistency on various issues including Turkey’s drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and its neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Erdogan criticized Tan’s position as “irresponsible, ignorant, and frivolous,” asserting that such criticism undermines Turkey’s national interests and aligns with adversaries.
Erdogan affirmed his commitment to the “Blue Homeland,” stating, “We will not take a single step back in protecting our Blue Homeland. Everyone should know this. We will continue to defend the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots to the end.”
