H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Meshal Al Sabah, Undersecretary of Ministry
of Defense,

H.E. Brigadier General Barrak Abdulmohsen Al Farhan, Commander
of the 94. Mechanized Division,

Excellencies,

Fellow Ambassadors,

Distinguished Military Attachés,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Members of the Press,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Assalamu Aleykum,

I would like to begin byexpressing my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for being here today toshare in our joy and pride on the Victory Day of the Republic of Türkiye.

103 years ago, the Turkish nationput a resounding end to subjugation after a three-year struggle againstinvading forces. We owe this resounding victory to the spirit, faith, and willof our nation, and the wise leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, thefounder of the Turkish Republic.

Dear guests,

Over the last century, theTurkish army has grown stronger and more modernized, becoming one of the mostformidable armies in the world. Especially in the last two decades, the Turkisharmy has made significant strides through reforms, planning, intense training,investment in technology, and institutional modernization.

In the face of today’s complexand novel geopolitical threats, the Turkish army continues to be the bastion ofdefense and the guardian of our nation, as well as a force for stability andpeace in the region.

Our army’s combat-readiness issecond to none, as we have been actively fighting against multiple terroristorganizations, such as DAESH and FETO.

Additionally, thanks toever-growing overseas basing and access, the Turkish armed forces havedeveloped interregional operational capabilities. Today, Türkiye is one of thetop five allies contributing the most to NATO’s missions and operations.

With Atatürk’s motto of “peace athome and peace abroad,” we look to the future with hope and confidence.

Dear Guests,

Over the last two decades, underthe leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has written a successstory in the defense industry. Through domestically produced military hardwareand software, we have developed a great amount of self-sufficiency, withTurkish-made military equipment now making up more than 80% of our inventory. Wehave also emerged as a reliable defense equipment provider for our globalpartners.

Today, the Turkish defenseindustry is writing epics with its wide product range, with over 1,380 projectsand a turnover exceeding $20 billion. The number of countries to which weexport our defense industry products has reached 185. The variety of productsexported, including UAVs, ground vehicles and naval platforms, has reached 230,and Turkish defense industry products have begun to take center stage in theglobal arena.

One of our latest products, asyou have been seeing its video clips, is Bayraktar’s KALKAN Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTOL).It is a Mini Tactical UAV class aircraft capable of carrying out activities forreconnaissance and intelligence missions. The aircraft has a flight controlsystem that can perform automatic route tracking, target tracking, circling andreturn-to-home modes.

Distinguished guests,

The relations between Türkiye andKuwait have reached an exemplary level and continue to grow stronger under theguidance of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and His Highness theAmir Sheikh Meshal.

We are pleased that the brotherlyties between our countries are being strengthened by further cooperation in thedefense industry. During His Highness the Amir’s visit to Türkiye on May 7,2024, Türkiye and Kuwait signed a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal, (Implementation Protocol on Government toGovernment Defence Industry Procurement Contracts) which allows for furthercooperation in this area.

Esteemed Guests,

We believe that the establishmentof peace, security, and stability in our region is essential for the overall well-beingof our nations. I am pleased to observe that when it comes to issues regardingregional security, Türkiye and Kuwait share a very similar vision. Bothcountries advocate for mediation, dialogue, peaceful settlements of conflicts,and good relations with neighbors while striving to improve defensecapabilities.

Unfortunately, our region iscurrently experiencing a very dangerous period. The non-stop killing ofinnocent people in Gaza by Israel, which amounts to a horrendous genocide mustend now.

In this respect, I would like tounderline that as Türkiye we will continue supporting our brothers and sistersin Gaza. I also commend Kuwait’s generous aid and humanitarian activities forthe besieged people of Gaza.

Dear Guests,

As it is our Army Day, let uswatch a short video clip about the Turkish Armed Forces / Turkish Defence
Industry, as visuals are more powerful than words.

Distinguished guests,

Now, I would like to read themessage of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the occasion of the Victory Day:

“Dear Citizens,

Distinguished Guests,

I greet you with my mostheartfelt sentiments, deep affection and respect.

We commemorate with justifiedpride, great enthusiasm and excitement the 103rd anniversary of the GreatVictory, one of our brightest epics, which our heroic army and our noble nationcreated with a self-sacrificing spirit and embellished with faith, hope andcourage.

On this important day when we weldedour love for independence with our passion for the future and crowned ourhorizons with our victory,Iwholeheartedly congratulate the great Turkish nation, the Turkish Cypriotpeople and each and every one of our over 7 million citizens abroad on August30 Victory Day.

I would like to truly thankall our guests who honored our foreign missions with their presence to shareour happiness and sentiments.

The Great Offensive, which waslaunched on the most arduous days of our War of Independence to banish thebloody shadow of occupation and oppression from our country, achieved victorywith the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief on 30 August 1922.

The Great Victory was the aspirationfor honor, freedom and of course dignityof the spirit of independence of our nation and the destinationfor long and arduous path to liberation that we walked on a knife edge.

With this victory, theoccupation forces of the imperialist armies in Anatolia were routed, the heinoussiege was broken, and our nation's refusal to submit to captivity was echoedall over the world with a loud voice.

The heroic struggle of ournation, given by our martyrs and veterans, has once again thwarted theinsidious ambitions of the invaders.

Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürksaid that the three most crucial elements of the August 30 Victory were ournation, the will of our nation, and our heroic army.

He emphasized that the most deterrentline of defense they raised against the enemy was the “internal front” createdjointly by the nation and the country.

In these critical days as werapidly progress toward the triumphant and auspicious epoch of the Century ofTürkiye, we aim to completely eradicate the dark shadow of terrorism from ourlands, which has tied us down for nearly half a century.

We, each and every one of 86million citizens, are working together to build a Türkiye in peace, prosperity,and well-being for the future.

With our 86 million citizensunited as one, we will reach that blessed destination, where there is no envyor hostility, and where our hearts are enlightened by stars of peace and bliss,with Allah's willing, as a nation.

On the other hand, we are passingthrough a dark period in which borders in our region are attempted to be redrawnwith blood, and the most brutal, inhumane massacres of the last century arecommitted in our immediate region, particularly in Gaza and Palestine.

Those who seek security andprosperity in the blood of the innocent flowing in streams, we believe, willnever reach their goals; they will certainly be held accountable for theirpolicies of destruction, occupation, and genocide, first before the law and thenbefore history.

Despite the countless attacksthey have endured for nearly 80 years, our Palestinian brothers and sisters,who have steadfastly held on to their land, will, God willing, continue to livein their homeland, where they have lived for centuries, till the end of time.

Just as we have donethroughout thousands of years of our history, Türkiye will stand firm with theoppressed against the oppressor today and tomorrow; we will never hesitate to upholdjustice and truth on behalf of all humanity.

Regardless of their faith, country, or continent, I extend my gratitude to everyone who has not remainedsilent before the atrocities in Gaza, even at the cost of paying a price.

I call upon all those with aconscience to join forces on the “front for humanity” to establish lastingpeace and stability in our region.

With these thoughts, I commemorateGhazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Offensive, andhis comrades-in-arms with gratitude.

I wish Allah’s mercy on our noblemartyrs who sacrificed their lives for their homeland, their flag, and theindependence and future of our nation.

I remember all our veterans withrespect.

I, once again, greet you allwith love and respect.

Happy August 30 Victory Day."

حفظ الله علاقات الأخوة بين تركيا والكويت
وعززها. حفظ الله تعالى تركيا والكويت من كل أنواع التهديدات والمخاطر. نسأل الله أن
يديم تعاوننا وتآزرنا في كل المجالات. ونسأل الله أن يرفع معاناة إخواننا وأخواتنا
في غزة.

Thank you.