Today, we are once again seeing just how important and accurate the cross-border security arguments that Türkiye has steadfastly defended for years truly are.
For many years, Türkiye has been compelled to take necessary measures beyond its borders to protect its territory and citizens from terrorist attacks. This is because the threat it faced was not merely a security issue originating within Türkiye’s borders. Terrorist organizations exploited power vacuums in neighboring countries, where they were trained and armed before launching attacks against Türkiye. Therefore, Türkiye’s cross-border operations were not a choice, but a necessity.
Türkiye is among the leading countries to have engaged in direct military combat against Daesh on the ground and suffered casualties in the process. The Euphrates Shield Operation put an end to Daesh’s control along our border, clearing thousands of square kilometers of territory of the terrorist organization. Similarly, the PKK and its Syrian affiliates were prevented from establishing a terror corridor along the Turkish border.
Current developments clearly demonstrate the scale of the security threat Türkiye would have faced had these interventions not been carried out.
Moreover, Türkiye’s regional priority has never been to divide the territories of its neighbors. On the contrary, Ankara has consistently defended the political unity and territorial integrity of both Iraq and Syria. Türkiye’s fundamental demand has always been crystal clear: the territories of neighboring countries must not be turned into safe havens for terrorist organizations operating against Türkiye.
However, these legitimate warnings were not taken seriously enough for many years.
During the Assad regime, the PKK’s presence on Syrian soil, along with the provision of shelter and operational capabilities to its leadership, drew Türkiye’s strong condemnation. Similarly, the power vacuum in northern Iraq was exploited by the PKK. Terrorists attacking Türkiye crossed the border, believing they would be safe on the other side.
For years, Türkiye waited for its neighbors and the international community to address and eliminate this threat. However, when the necessary steps were not taken, it was forced to take measures to ensure its own security. After all, no state can simply stand by and watch as an overt threat to its citizens persists, relying on nothing more than diplomatic statements.
The point that must be emphasized here is this: Türkiye is not an “occupying” country, as some circles claim.
If Türkiye’s aim had been to gain territory, it would have sought to exploit the chaos in the region and the collapse of state authority. Instead, Ankara did the exact opposite. It defended the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq, worked to restore normal life in areas cleared of terrorism, enabled civilians to return safely to their homes, and helped establish local order.
The target of Türkiye’s military presence is not the territory of another country, but the terrorist organizations themselves.
For this reason, when evaluating Türkiye’s cross-border operations, one must not confuse cause and effect. Instability in the region did not arise because Türkiye crossed the border. On the contrary, cross-border intervention became necessary because state authority had collapsed in the region, allowing terrorist organizations to exploit this vacuum and threaten Türkiye.
Today, as Syria and Iraq strive to rebuild, Türkiye continues to uphold the same fundamental principles: strong central governments, respect for territorial integrity, secure borders, and a region free of terrorist organizations.
Because Ankara understands very well that fragmentation in neighboring countries threatens not only its own security but also the stability of the entire region. Artificial entities formed along ethnic and sectarian fault lines can pave the way for new conflicts, further waves of migration, and even larger wars.
Türkiye does not want a region composed of fragmented, weak, and hostile states. Türkiye wants a region with secure borders, preserved political unity, and freedom from the control of terrorist organizations.
Those who, for years, refused to understand Türkiye’s security concerns are now seeing the same threats knocking at their own doors. Those who yesterday asked, “Why is Türkiye operating across the border?” must now answer this question: If Türkiye had not intervened, who would have paid the price for a terrorist belt established along our borders?
For this reason, cross-border operations are not merely military decisions made in the past. They are strategic measures aimed at protecting Türkiye’s sovereignty, the security of its citizens, and the future of the region.
Time has once again vindicated Türkiye’s position.
