Risks and threats require use of all national forces, says Turkey’s new top commander

ANKARA

DHA photo

Turkey’s frontline role in the United States-led campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the ongoing battle against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has increased Turkey’s security needs, the country’s new top commander has said, calling for a marshalling of all resources at hand.

“Developments in the world, instability in our region, along with uncertainties and conflicts, and the actions of terrorist organizations in our country, especially the PKK separatist terrorist organization, has led to the increase of security needs,” new Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said late Aug. 18 as he assumed control of the Armed Forces from his predecessor, Gen. Necdet Özel.

According to Akar, the risks and threats in the current environment surrounding Turkey are constantly and rapidly changing.

“This environment makes it right for us to use all components of national power – in other words, political, economic, technological, socio-cultural and military powers – which complete and support each other, by relying upon institutions and rules that form the basis of the state in order to build the desired balance between security and freedom,” Akar said. 

“It is an open truth that the existence of a modern and powerful armed force, which appropriately interprets the zeitgeist as part of a rational power that is based on the use of all components of national power, has vital importance in providing for the security and welfare of our nation,” he said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu all attended the handover ceremony.

Akar was named the new head of the new chief of General Staff in early August during a meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), taking over from Özel following the latter’s four-year term.