Erdogan vows to turn Turkey into region's strongest maritime power VIDEO

"Turkey's armed forces are the main guarantor of stability and the secure future of the country," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while addressing the participants of "Mavi Vatan 2022" ("Blue Homeland") military exercise, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence reported on Twitter.

The drills dubbed "Mavi Vatan 2022" kicked off on April 11, 2022, in the waters of the Mediterranean, Black and Aegean Seas with the participation of 45 ships, aircraft and helicopters of the Turkish Armed Forces.

As part of the Mavi Vatan 2022 exercises, domestic Mam-L guided munitions were launched for the first time from Turkish-made Aksungur UAVs.

Turkish National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, service commanders and military attachés from 15 countries arrived at the Kemalreis frigate off the coast of Marmaris province on April 21, to observe the exercise.

In a video address, President Erdoğan stressed the importance Turkish authorities attach to bolstering the country's defence capabilities.

According to him, for Turkey, whose shores are fringed by many seas, having a strong navy is not a matter of choice, but an urgent national security requirement.

"We will continue the course of making Turkey the strongest maritime power in the region and the world as a whole. The Turkish military are not only defenders of the homeland but also important participants in international operations and conductors of humanitarian missions," Erdoğan said.

The President noted that to date, the Turkish Navy and Coast Guard have saved hundreds of thousands of lives on the seas.

The head of state also praised the actions of the Turkish military in northern Iraq, where they are confronting the threat of terrorism.

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, Mavi Vatan 2022 Tatbikatı'nda konuşuyor https://t.co/EpSHhlPJmM

— T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) April 21, 2022