Following the occupation’s attack on Iran, a sudden wave of incitement against Turkey has emerged, claiming that it is working to accelerate its nuclear project on the Mediterranean coast, which is set to become operational this year. Turkey’s insistence on independent uranium enrichment, they argue, will allow it to develop nuclear weapons — a source of growing concern for the occupation.
Shay Gal, an expert in international politics, crisis management, and strategic communications, wrote that when the occupation attacked Iran, Turkey saw an opportunity to become the “new Iran” — a state that poses a military and political threat, and potentially a nuclear one. Like Iran, Turkey offers political and logistical support to hostile organisations — most notably Hamas, which actively resists the occupation. He noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently announced that Turkey had reached an advanced stage in developing long-range ballistic missiles and had begun mass production of the “KAAN” stealth fighter jet, which will enter service in 2029.
In an article published by Israel Hayom and translated by Sunna Files Website, Gal stated that “In 2022, Turkey successfully tested the ‘Tayfun’ missile, striking a target 560 km away. Erdoğan confirmed that his country cannot afford to fall behind in facing Iran and Israel. He warned that if Greece does not keep calm, the missile will hit it. These threats, coupled with the presence of Turkish forces in northern Cyprus — a territory occupied for 50 years and belonging to an EU member state — form part of Turkey’s ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine to assert control over the Eastern Mediterranean.”
He added that “The EU’s policy toward Turkey suffers from contradictions. In May 2025, the EU approved the €150 billion SAFE program, which includes security cooperation with non-EU states, including Turkey. Thus, despite its occupation of Cyprus and open threats to Greece, Ankara may receive European funding, advanced technology, and additional weaponry — all of which would increase its strategic threat to the occupation.”
Gal stressed that “Turkey’s threat to the occupation is not limited to conventional means. It is also accelerating its nuclear project on the Mediterranean coast, set to start this year. Its insistence on independent enrichment will allow it to develop nuclear weapons. As early as 2019, Erdoğan made clear that he would not accept a ban on this matter — a ban the occupation itself is bound by. Turkey is likely to replicate the Iranian scenario, transforming its civilian nuclear program into a military one.”
He claimed that “For this purpose, Turkey is operating an international network: Pakistan, which previously assisted Iran and Libya in this field; Niger, which supplies nuclear raw materials; and Somalia, where it has established secret training bases away from the West’s eyes. All of this unfolds amid soaring inflation, political arrests, and massive protests against the government, driving it to escalate regional and international threats to distract public opinion.”
Gal argued that “Turkey exploits its NATO membership to secure immunity from military action against it, while Erdoğan works to undermine the alliance from within — enjoying protection that Iran never had, even though his policies conflict with its interests. Meanwhile, the contradiction between the U.S. and Europe forces the occupation to prepare for an independent strategic posture.”
He cited a striking example: “President Donald Trump’s insistence on returning Turkey to the F-35 fighter jet program, despite its expulsion after purchasing the S-400 air defense system from Russia — a move that sparked serious concerns about leaking sensitive technologies to Moscow and severely damaged NATO’s credibility.”
The article quoted recommendations from the Nagal Committee’s report on the occupation army’s budget, including the need for early preparation for strategic threats, especially the Turkish threat. The occupation has built strong alliances with Greece and Cyprus, involving regular training and naval cooperation to secure energy assets and sell advanced weapons systems. At the same time, it has strengthened security ties with Egypt and the UAE, both of which fear Turkey’s growing influence.
Gal concluded that “In negotiations with Syria, the occupation must demand clear restrictions on Turkish military presence in the north, and firmly reject Trump’s idea of unfreezing the F-35 deal in exchange for Turkey’s approval of the agreement.”
He closed with the assertion that the occupation state and its partners “must act now, before the Turkish threat evolves into a serious and unprecedented strategic danger that will surpass even the Iranian threat,” as he put it.
