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By H.E. Dr. Mustafa Göksu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the State of Qatar

First, I would like to extend my heartfelt prayers for the late H.H. the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away recently. I pray to Almighty Allah to envelop him in His infinite mercy, grant him the highest place in Paradise, and bestow patience and solace upon his family and the people of the State of Qatar.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt that the Republic of Türkiye faced on 15 July 2016. More than a remembrance of a defining moment in our nation’s modern history, this anniversary offers an opportunity for strategic reflection on the profound structural transformations that have reshaped the Turkish Republic over the past decade. Looking back after ten years provides us with a broader political and diplomatic perspective to assess our journey. From the very night that was intended to bring an end to Türkiye’s democratic experience emerged the “New Türkiye”—a nation that today, in the second century of its Republic, stands as a confident regional and global power, exercising its sovereign will and shaping its future with determination.
The events of 15 July marked a historic turning point in the understanding of national will and sovereign decision-making. On that night, the clandestine terrorist network FETO (Fetullah Terrorist Organization), which had infiltrated the institutions of the state over decades like dormant cells, attempted to seize our constitutional order and impose its will by force of arms. Yet the extraordinary unity between the Turkish people and their leadership, coupled with the courageous response of millions who took to the streets and public squares at the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, not only defeated the coup attempt but also consigned forever the era of external tutelage and illegitimate interference to history. On that historic night, our nation sacrificed more than 250 martyrs and thousands of wounded heroes, sealing with their blood a renewed social covenant that reaffirmed the supremacy of the nation’s sovereign will above all else.
From the very first hours following the defeat of this treacherous conspiracy, we recognized that the challenge extended far beyond restoring public order. It required a comprehensive reconstruction and fortification of the institutions of the state. Over the past decade, Türkiye has undertaken a meticulous process of institutional reform through which the Turkish Armed Forces, the judiciary, the security services, and the educational system have reclaimed their unequivocal national character. This profound transformation has endowed the state with an unprecedented degree of institutional resilience, ensuring that security and political decision-making rest exclusively upon the will of the people. Türkiye has thus evolved from a country reacting to crises into one capable of generating its own stability.
It is precisely this institutional and political independence that laid the foundation for the strategic doctrine of the “New Türkiye.” As emphasized by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the vision of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” has evolved beyond a mere security or military policy; it has become a defining pillar of the state’s strategic vision for the Century of Türkiye. This vision seeks to permanently strengthen the nation’s internal cohesion, unlock new horizons of prosperity and development, and safeguard national security through a proactive strategy that neutralizes threats at their source, including cross-border operations that have dismantled schemes targeting Türkiye’s national security.
The experience of the past decade has clearly demonstrated that, in today’s world, national sovereignty is inseparable from technological independence and strategic self-reliance. Türkiye regards advances in its defence industry, cybersecurity capabilities, artificial intelligence research, and the protection of critical data infrastructure not simply as technological achievements but as integral components of its national security and sovereign decision-making. Successive accomplishments—from globally renowned unmanned aerial vehicles to the indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft KAAN, advanced air defence systems, and aircraft carriers—underscore that Türkiye is no longer a country content with roles assigned by others. Rather, it has become an independent strategic actor, capable of building its own security architecture and projecting its vision from the Gulf to North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
This strengthened national resilience and the strategic vision of the New Türkiye acquire even greater significance when viewed against the turbulent developments unfolding across our region and the wider international landscape. Today, the Middle East is experiencing one of the most dangerous and complex periods in its modern history. The devastating war in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe that deeply wounds the conscience of humanity, while the international system has failed to halt violations of international humanitarian law. This reality once again affirms the enduring relevance of President Erdoğan’s principle that “The world is bigger than five.”
Alongside the continuing tragedy in Palestine, the region now stands on the brink of a broader and potentially open-ended regional conflict. Escalating military confrontations and unprecedented tensions involving major regional and international powers have dramatically heightened the risks. The ongoing escalation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has placed the entire region in an extremely volatile security environment. These intersecting conflicts, accompanied by military demonstrations of force and reciprocal strikes, threaten to redraw the region’s security architecture while undermining the prosperity, trade, and future of its peoples.
Amid these turbulent circumstances, the value of Türkiye’s independent decision-making, firmly anchored in the will of its people, becomes even more evident. As a pillar of regional stability, Türkiye rejects divisive geopolitical polarization and destructive bloc politics that serve only the interests of those who seek instability in our region. Instead, Ankara pursues an active and dynamic diplomacy aimed at de-escalating crises, advocating restraint, and working closely with trusted partners to promote just political solutions. Foremost among these priorities are ending the violence in Gaza and safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Recent developments have reaffirmed that the security of our surrounding region is an inseparable extension of Türkiye’s own national security. We have never drawn a distinction between our own stability and that of our neighbors, believing that regional security is indivisible.
At the heart of this diplomatic and security vision stands the strategic partnership between the Republic of Türkiye and the State of Qatar, which has become one of the principal pillars of stability in this turbulent region. The Turkish nation will never forget the principled and courageous stance of H. H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, who was the first world leader to contact President Erdoğan on the night of 15 July, unequivocally expressing Qatar’s unwavering support for the democratic will of the Turkish people and Türkiye’s legitimate constitutional institutions. Qatar’s noble position has always been met with steadfast Turkish loyalty. Ankara has consistently stood firmly beside Doha during its most challenging moments, embodying the strategic conviction that Qatar’s security is Türkiye’s security.
This sincere solidarity became the cornerstone upon which our bilateral relations have reached unprecedented levels of integration over the past decade. Through the Türkiye–Qatar High Strategic Committee, more than 120 agreements have institutionalized this alliance across a broad spectrum of sectors, including defence, energy, economy, and education. Today, this strategic convergence is reflected in our close coordination on regional affairs, where both countries actively support mediation efforts and contribute jointly to strengthening regional stability. Our shared conviction remains that lasting peace and meaningful dialogue constitute the only viable path to preventing wider regional conflicts while safeguarding the rights and legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the region.
As I conclude, I recall with immense pride the enriching years I had the privilege of serving as the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the State of Qatar. It was a period marked by tireless work and by the deep bonds of fraternity that unite our two peoples and our two nations. I remain fully confident that the journey of cooperation and solidarity between Türkiye and Qatar will continue to flourish, and that the mutual support we extend to one another in international fora will remain a cornerstone of a brighter and more prosperous shared future.
In this context, the tenth anniversary of the defeat of the failed coup attempt represents for Türkiye far more than a commemoration of past heroism; it is a renewed commitment to shaping the future. Today, as Türkiye advances confidently into the second century of the Republic, it does so empowered by the awareness of its people, the strength of its institutions, and a clear strategic vision founded on self-reliance. By further strengthening our national resilience and deepening our strategic partnerships built on mutual respect and steadfast loyalty—foremost among them our enduring partnership with the brotherly State of Qatar—we will continue to serve as a force for stability, justice, and security, contributing not only to a safer and more peaceful region but also to a more secure and peaceful future for all humanity.