President Erdoğan: MILGEM is one of our major projects of cooperation which crown our relations with Pakistan in defense industry
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the launching ceremony for the third ship of the Pakistan MILGEM Corvette Project, keel laying ceremony for the first ship of and steel cutting ceremony for the second ship of the Offshore Patrol Ship Project at Istanbul Shipyard Command.
Voicing his happiness over hosting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan in Türkiye, President Erdoğan said: “I would like to take this occasion to welcome Prime Minister Sharif and his delegation once again to Istanbul.”
“PAKISTAN HAS ALWAYS HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE IN THE TURKISH NATION’S HEART”
“MILGEM is one of our major projects of cooperation which crown our relations with the brotherly Pakistan in defense industry,” President Erdoğan underlined. “We are here today for the launching ceremony for a MILGEM ship, the Khaybar Corvette. I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate everyone from workers to engineers, who contributed to the project.”
Underscoring that the Turkish nation never forget their Pakistani brothers and sisters support during the National Struggle, President Erdoğan said: “Pakistan has always had an exceptional place in the Turkish nation’s heart. The images that emerged following the flood that affected a significant part of Pakistan made our hearts bleed. As required by our brotherhood, we mobilized all our means for the people of Pakistan by establishing an air bridge and sending trains of benevolence. We are glad to see that our Pakistani brothers and sisters have begun to recover from the effects of the flood. We always have and always will stand with Pakistan so that it can overcome these difficult days.”
Noting that 2022 marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Pakistan, President Erdoğan said: “Our solidarity continues to grow stronger with a strategic perspective in a way befitting our two countries’ history, friendship and potential. Defense industry is a major pillar of this cooperation.”
“TÜRKİYE IS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN ITS STRATEGY TO DESTROY TERROR AT ITS SOURCE”
“Like Türkiye, Pakistan is also faced with various challenges due to the instabilities in its close region,” President Erdoğan said. “Our Pakistani brothers and sisters have to fight against multiple threats at the same time, particularly attacks by terrorist organizations. As a country that has been fighting against separatist terrorism for nearly 40 years, we know very well the pain the Pakistani people have suffered and the prices they have paid.”
Thanking Prime Minister Sharif and the Pakistani people for their solidarity in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Istanbul and Karkamış, President Erdoğan said: “I would like to underline once again that we will continue our fight against terror in all its kinds and forms both inside and outside our borders. No matter who they cry out to, we are making these enemies of humanity pay for every drop of blood they shed, and will continue to do so. If we do not do that, we will not be able to look our teachers and 5-year-old innocent children, who were taken from us too early, in their faces on judgement day.”
“We think it would be beneficial that those, who drowned the Syrian extension of the separatist terrorist organization in support and weapons under the guise of fighting DAESH, make their calculations accordingly instead of constantly suggesting composure to us. As the only NATO ally, who have combatted hand to hand in the field against DAESH, which is the product of a project, and defeated this terrorist organization, no one can lecture us on this matter. Especially those, who come from tens of thousands of kilometers away and wreak havoc in the face of even the slightest attack against them, cannot expect us to tolerate the terrorists who are based right across our borders. Türkiye is determined to maintain its strategy to destroy terror at its source,” President Erdoğan underlined.
“TÜRKİYE HAS BECOME A MAJOR GLOBAL ACTOR IN ITS REGION”
“Türkiye has become a major global actor in its region following its recent leap-forwards. Türkiye is no longer just Türkiye, but a much greater force with its friends and brothers,” President Erdoğan said.
Highlighting the contributions of the defense industry in Türkiye’s progress, President Erdoğan said: “Thanks to the level we have reached in defense industry, we have the capability to manage the processes we are involved in according to our own will without feeling the need to seek anyone’s permission.”
“If we look at the numbers, we had merely 62 defense projects in 2002. Today, we have over 750. In 2002, the total budget of our defense projects was $5.5 billion, Today, we have reached a defense project volume of $60 billion. That figure rises to $75 billion, if we include the projects at tender phase. Back then, our annual export volume was $248 million. Inshallah, we will have reached $4 billion by year’s end,” President Erdoğan said.
“We are domestically designing, producing and developing a wide range of systems we need, including weapons, ammunition, missiles, unmanned aerial, ground and surface vehicles, helicopters and ships. We are one of the 10 countries in the world, which can nationally design, build and maintain its warship. We are truly proud of our maritime platforms designed, developed and produced at our military and private shipyards. The warships, we produce as part of our MILGEM Project, have the most advanced equipment, and the power to compete worldwide,” President Erdoğan noted.
“WE SHARE THE NECESSARY WILL TO ENHANCE OUR PARTNERSHIP IN DEFENSE INDUSTRY”
“We will not stop until we elevate Türkiye to the top in the world’s super league in defense industry,” President Erdoğan underscored.
With regard to the cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan on defense industry, President Erdoğan said: “We share the necessary will to enhance our partnership in defense industry. I believe we will further advance our cooperation with Pakistan in all areas, and continue to display an exemplary solidarity in our region and the world.”
