July 15 coup shaped Türkiye's future: Communications chief

Türkiye's Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt by describing it as a defining moment that shaped the nation's future, urging international partners to recognize the FETO threat as extending far beyond Ankara's borders.

Erdogan's leadership credited

In a video message to a panel commemorating the anniversary, Duran stated: "The night of July 15, 2016, was a night that shaped the future of our nation in every respect. We owe the victory of that night to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's determined and independent political stance and leadership from the very first moments." He emphasized that civilian resistance followed the president's call to defend the streets against putschists.

FETO's deadly assault on institutions

Duran noted that members of the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETO) targeted state institutions, parliament and media organizations during the attempted takeover, while 253 people were killed and thousands injured in the violence. "We have gone through difficult and challenging days. But no matter how difficult, Türkiye, under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has the strength to deal with such threats to its sovereignty," he said, noting that Ankara has since eliminated the group's presence from state institutions but paid a heavy price.

Transnational threat warning

The communications director urged allies to demonstrate solidarity against the organization, stating: "We expect our friends to stand by us and act with a sense of solidarity against structures that target our nation's sovereignty and democracy. FETO is not merely a national security issue concerning Türkiye. FETO is a clear threat to every country in which it operates." He argued that the coup attempt revealed the complex nature of hybrid threats and terror organizations, calling for international cooperation to develop common solutions to such challenges.