Türkiye has saved the lives of irregular migrants who were illegally pushed back by Greece, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said late Monday.
"With the efforts of our Coast Guard, we have prevented deaths in the Aegean. In the last two years, we have saved the lives of 41,000 people who were left to die by Greece," Erdoğan said at a Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy's graduation ceremony in the capital Ankara.
Erdoğan said the number of irregular migrants apprehended by the Turkish Coast Guard has reached 245,000, adding the gendarmerie continues its fight against irregular migration and human traffickers.
"If anyone still criticizes our defense industry breakthroughs despite the military build-up in Greece, it means they have become deprived of strategic vision," he added.
Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Human rights groups and media outlets have frequently reported on illegal pushbacks and other human rights breaches by Greek authorities.
Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
Erdoğan said Ankara does not nurture enmity toward anyone or any country, adding: "On the contrary, we want to establish the best, most advanced and most sincere relationship with every country and society."
He also said Türkiye aims to establish a "belt of peace and cooperation" around it, starting with its close neighbors.
Türkiye rescued over 11,000 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea in the past seven months.
According to the information compiled from the Turkish Coast Guard Command website, the teams saved the lives of 11,111 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea between Jan. 1 and July 31.
A total of 9,973 irregular migrants were illegally pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek coast guards. Some 1,138 others were stranded in the Aegean Sea for various reasons.
Since the beginning of this year, the most push-backs were recorded in July with 1,933 irregular migrants.
Also, 1,138 irregular immigrants, who came face-to-face with death at sea because of some reasons such as engine failure and flooding of boats and called for help, were brought ashore by the coast guard teams.
The teams also recovered the bodies of seven irregular migrants in the seven months and detained 80 smugglers.
