Türkiye sends bold message from TEKNOFEST: "We will remind those who forgot'" TRNC as a platform for geopolitical statement / VIDEO

TEKNOFEST, the world’s largest festival of aviation, space, and technology, is underway in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with strong public enthusiasm and strategic messaging.

According to the Turkish daily "Türkiye", the festival, held at the old Ercan Airport in Nicosia, attracted 62,000 visitors on its opening day alone, Caliber.Az reports.

The decision to host the major event in Northern Cyprus this year has been widely interpreted as a strong political and military signal to Greek Cypriots.

In a post on its official social media platforms, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence issued a striking message: “We will remind those who have forgotten.”

Retired Colonel Oğuz Kalelioğlu, one of the key commanders during Türkiye’s 1974 military operation in Cyprus, described the military displays at the festival as more than symbolic.

Unutana hatırlatırız… 🇹🇷#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı#GününFotoğrafı pic.twitter.com/EekCWpPxCz

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) May 2, 2025

“The show put on by Turkish military aircraft was an open challenge to our enemies and at the same time inspired confidence in our friends,” Kalelioğlu stated.

Highlighting Türkiye’s continued military presence on the island, he said: “We have a 30,000-strong army corps stationed there. Naturally, it is the Turks who dominate Cyprus—on land, at sea, and in the air. This display of strength is a message not only to the Greeks, but also to Israel, which relies on Western powers to provoke tensions through the Mediterranean and Syria.”

Kalelioğlu emphasised the importance of such public demonstrations of power in maintaining historical memory and asserting Turkish sovereignty in the region: “Such events should frequently remind the world that this is the Turkish homeland. In 1974, we defeated 55,000 Greek soldiers with just 15,000 men. Greek officers disguised themselves on the battlefield and escaped in civilian clothes. Let them be constantly reminded of the power of the Turks through this festival.”

TEKNOFEST, which has become a symbol of Türkiye’s technological and defence advancements, continues to draw attention from regional observers and international media alike.

By Tamilla Hasanova