View source for Turkish Armed Forces

{{Short description|Combined military forces of Turkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = Turkish Armed Forces
| native_name = {{nativename|tr|Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri}}
| image = [[File:Seal of the Turkish Armed Forces.png|centre|170px]]
| caption = Emblem of the TAF
| image2 = 
| caption2 = 
| founded = {{ubl|3 May 1920|({{Age in years and months|1920|05|03}})}}{{efn|As the Army of the Grand National Assembly.<ref name=Turkish>{{cite web|title=TSK Official History Information|url=http://www.tsk.tr/1_tsk_hakkinda/1_1_tarihce/tarihce.htm|publisher=Turkish Armed Forces|access-date=2 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629221234/http://www.tsk.tr/1_TSK_HAKKINDA/1_1_Tarihce/tarihce.htm|archive-date=29 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}<!--, 209 BC<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.kkk.tsk.tr/KKKHakkinda/KKKtarihce.aspx | title=Türk kara kuvvetleri̇ tari̇hçesi̇ cumhuri̇yet dönemi̇ öncesi̇ türk kara kuvvetleri̇ | language=tr | trans-title=Turkish Land Forces History Turkish Land Forces Before the Republic | website=www.kkk.tsk.tr | access-date=12 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012011737/http://www.kkk.tsk.tr/KKKHakkinda/KKKtarihce.aspx | archive-date=12 October 2014 | url-status=dead}}</ref>-->
| branches = {{flagicon image|Flag of Turkish Land Forces Command.svg|size=21px}} [[Turkish Land Forces]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Turkish Naval Forces Command.svg|size=21px}} [[Turkish Naval Forces]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Turkish Air Force Command.svg|size=21px}} [[Turkish Air Force]]
| headquarters = [[General Staff Building (Ankara)|General Staff Building]], [[Bakanlıklar]], [[Çankaya, Ankara (district)|Çankaya]], [[Ankara]], Turkey
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = {{flagicon image|Flag of the President of Turkey.svg|size=23px}} [[President of Turkey|President]] [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[Commander-in-Chief]]
| chief minister = {{Flagicon image|MSB-Logo.png|size=23px}} Minister [[Yaşar Güler]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2023/06/20230604-1.pdf|title=Official Newspaper Turkey – Assignments|date=4 June 2023|access-date=5 June 2023|website=resmigazete.gov.tr|publisher=[[Resmi Gazete]]|language=Turkish}}</ref>
| chief minister_title = [[List of Ministers of National Defense of Turkey|Minister of National Defense]]
| commander = {{flagicon image|Standard of President of Turkey as Supreme Chief of Armed Forces.svg|size=22px}} General [[Metin Gürak]]
| commander_title = [[Chief of the Turkish General Staff|Chief of the General Staff]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 20<ref name="bal">{{cite book |title=The Military Balance |date=2020 |edition= |publisher=The International Institute for Strategic Studies |location=London |isbn=978-0367466398 |pages=153–156 }}</ref>
| conscription = 6 months
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 18–41<ref name="factbook"/>
| available = 
| available_f = 
| fit = 
| fit_f = 
| reaching = 
| reaching_f = 
| active = 481,000<ref name="Budget2024">{{cite press release |last=NATO Public Diplomacy Division |date=2024-06-17 |location=Brussels, Belgium |title=Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2024) |url=https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2024/6/pdf/240617-def-exp-2024-en.pdf |work=nato.int |access-date=2025-01-13 |pages=4, 13}}</ref>
| reserve = 380,000<ref name="personnel"/>
| amount = {{USD|25.0&nbsp;billion}} (2024)<ref>{{Cite web| title=Trends in world military expenditure, 2024 | url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/2504_fs_milex_2024.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427231315/https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/2504_fs_milex_2024.pdf | archive-date=2025-04-27}}</ref><br /> ([[List of countries by military expenditures|ranked 17th]])
| percent_GDP = 2,09% (2024)<ref name="Budget2024"/>
| domestic_suppliers = {{hidden 
|''List''
| headerstyle=background:#b0c4de | [[Defence Industry Agency|SSB]]<br />[[MKEK]]<br />[[Roketsan]]<br />[[Aselsan]]<br />[[Turkish Aerospace Industries|TAI]]<br />[[Havelsan]]<br />[[TÜBİTAK]]<br />[[Baykar]]<br />[[STM (Turkish company)|STM]]<br />[[BMC (Turkey)#Military|BMC]]<br />[[Otokar]]<br />[[FNSS Defence Systems|FNSS]]<br />[[Nurol Holding|Nurol Makina]]<br />[[Sarsilmaz|Sarsılmaz]]<br />[[GIRSAN|GİRSAN]]<br />[[TISAS|TİSAŞ]]<br />[[Canik Arms]]<br />[[UTAŞ]]<br />[[ASFAT]]<br />[[Meteksan Savunma|Meteksan]]<br />[[Kale Group]]<br />[[Transvaro]]<br />[[Gölcük Naval Shipyard]]<br />[[Ares Shipyard]]<br />[[Sedef Shipyard]]<br />[[Sefine Shipyard]]<br />[[Tusaş Engine Industries]]<br /> [[REPKON]]}}
| foreign_suppliers = {{hidden 
|''List''
| headerstyle=background:#b0c4de |{{GER}}<br />{{KOR}}<br />{{USA}}<br />{{UK}}<br />{{ITA}}<br />{{ESP}}<br />{{SWE}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.turkishminute.com/2024/03/04/sweden-arms-export-turkey-in-2023-totaled-386000/ |website=Turkish minute | title=Sweden's arms exports to Turkey in 2023 totaled $386,000 |date=2024-03-04}}</ref>}}
| imports = 
| exports = $7.1 billion (2024)<ref name="budget">{{Cite web |date=2025-01-03 |title=The defense industry exported $7.1 billion in 2024 |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/savunma-sanayisi-2024te-7-1-milyar-dolarlik-ihracat-yapti/3441221 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Anadolu Ajansı}}</ref>
| history = {{ubl|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire]]|[[Military history of Turkey]]|[[List of wars involving Turkey]]}}
| ranks = [[Military ranks of Turkey]]
| website = {{URL|1=https://www.tsk.tr/HomeEng|2=https://www.tsk.tr}}
}}
{{Turkish Armed Forces}}

The '''Turkish Armed Forces''' ('''TAF'''; {{langx|tr|Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri}}, '''TSK''') are the [[armed forces|military forces]] of the [[Turkey|Republic of Turkey]]. The TAF consist of  the [[Turkish Army|Land Forces]], the [[Turkish Navy|Naval Forces]] and the [[Turkish Air Force|Air Forces]]. The [[Chief of the Turkish General Staff|Chief]] of the [[General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces|General Staff]] is the Commander of the Armed Forces. In wartime, the Chief of the General Staff acts as the [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] on behalf of the [[President of Turkey|President]], who represents the Supreme Military Command of the TAF on behalf of the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]].<ref>Federal Research Division, ''Turkey: A Country Study'', Kessinger Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|978-1-4191-9126-8}}, p. 337.</ref> Coordinating the military relations of the TAF with other [[NATO]] member states and friendly states is the responsibility of the General Staff.

The history of the Turkish Armed Forces began with its formation after the [[collapse of the Ottoman Empire]]. The Turkish military perceived itself as the guardian of [[Kemalism]], the official [[state ideology]], especially of its emphasis on [[secularism]]. After becoming a member of NATO in 1952, Turkey initiated a comprehensive modernization program for its armed forces. The Turkish Army sent [[Turkish Brigade|14,936 troops]] to fight in the [[Korean War]] alongside South Korea and NATO. Towards the end of the 1980s, a second restructuring process was initiated. The Turkish Armed Forces participate in an [[EU Battlegroup]] under the control of the [[European Council]], the Italian-Romanian-Turkish Battlegroup. The TAF also contributes operational staff to the [[Eurocorps]] multinational army corps initiative of the [[EU]] and NATO.

The TAF is the second largest standing military force in NATO, after the [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Husain |first=Amir |title=Turkey Builds A Hyperwar Capable Military |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amirhusain/2022/06/30/turkey-builds-a-hyperwar-capable-military/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Turkey is one of five NATO member states which are part of the [[nuclear sharing]] policy of the alliance, together with Belgium, [[Germany and weapons of mass destruction|Germany]], Italy, and the [[Netherlands and weapons of mass destruction|Netherlands]].

== War Flag of Turkey ==
[[File:Regment flag of 39th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.svg|150px]] 

The flag is the Turkish flag, which is the symbol of honor and dignity of the Turkish Armed Forces, made of satin fabric and produced in a single size, with the name of the armed forces unit it represents written on it with a gold star (regiment and brigade equivalent units).

It is opened with a ceremony, and moves under the command of the flag contingent.

Flag Contingent: Consists of 4 people. The flag bearer holding the flag, two flag guards and the Flag Contingent Commander. There are selection criteria for the flag contingent. The flag bearer, flag guard and flag officer must have distinguished themselves with their education and discipline among their peers. The flag officer can be in the rank of second lieutenant-captain.

In addition, there is a flag in the Security Organization, which is only present in the office of the General Director of Security and the President of the Police Academy. The Security Organization has defined the flag as the symbol of honor of the Security Organization in its own regulations.  The flags in the Security Organization are different from the flags in the Turkish Armed Forces, they have a white tassel and cord.

All flags only salute the President and foreign Heads of State. As long as the flag is open and visible, it is saluted by everyone standing and with a frontal salute.

<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,618550,00.html|title= Foreign Minister Wants US Nukes out of Germany |work=Der Spiegel|date=30 March 2009|access-date=1 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214122303/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0%2C1518%2C618550%2C00.html|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> A total of 50 U.S. [[B61 nuclear bomb]]s are hosted at the [[Incirlik Air Base]], the most of the five countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What at a Glance |publisher=Arms Control Association|url=https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat|access-date=2021-12-16|website=www.armscontrol.org}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Military history of the Republic of Turkey}}

===War of Independence===
{{main|Turkish War of Independence}}

The Turkish War of Independence (19 May 1919 – 24 July 1923) was a series of military campaigns waged by the [[Turkish National Movement]] after parts of the [[Ottoman Empire]] were occupied and partitioned following its defeat in [[World War I]]. These campaigns were directed against [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greece in the west]], [[Turkish–Armenian War|Armenia in the east]], [[Franco-Turkish War|France in the south]], [[Revolts during the Turkish War of Independence|loyalists and separatists in various cities]], and [[Occupation of Constantinople|British and Ottoman troops around Constantinople (İstanbul)]].<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-44425/Turkey|title=Turkey, Mustafa Kemal and the Turkish War of Independence, 1919–23|access-date=29 October 2007|year=2007|archive-date=25 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625023040/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-44425/Turkey|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ethnic demographics of the modern [[Turkey|Turkish Republic]] were significantly impacted by the earlier [[Armenian genocide]] and the deportations of Greek-speaking, Orthodox Christian [[Rum Millet|Rum people]].{{Sfn|Landis|Albert|2012|p=264}} The Turkish National Movement carried out massacres and deportations to eliminate native [[Christians|Christian]] populations{{snd}}a continuation of the Armenian genocide and [[late Ottoman genocides|other ethnic cleansing operations]] during World War I.<ref>* {{cite book|last1=Üngör|first1=Uğur Ümit|title=The Making of Modern Turkey: Nation and State in Eastern Anatolia, 1913–1950|title-link=The Making of Modern Turkey|date=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-965522-9|page=121|language=en|quote=As such, the Greco-Turkish and Armeno-Turkish wars (1919–23) were in essence processes of state formation that represented a continuation of ethnic unmixing and exclusion of Ottoman Christians from Anatolia.|author1-link=Uğur Ümit Üngör}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kieser|first1=Hans-Lukas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b53tAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Turkish+war+of+independence%22+%22ethnic+cleansing%22|title=A Quest for Belonging: Anatolia Beyond Empire and Nation (19th–21st Centuries)|date=2007|publisher=Isis Press|isbn=978-975-428-345-7|page=171|language=en|quote=The Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 officially recognized the " ethnic cleansing " that had gone on during the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1922 ) for the sake of undisputed Turkish rule in Asia Minor .|author1-link=Hans-Lukas Kieser|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115124334/https://books.google.com/books?id=b53tAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Turkish+war+of+independence%22+%22ethnic+cleansing%22|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Avedian|first1=Vahagn|date=2012|title=State Identity, Continuity, and Responsibility: The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide|url=https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/23/3/797/399905|journal=European Journal of International Law|language=en|volume=23|issue=3|pages=797–820|doi=10.1093/ejil/chs056|issn=0938-5428|quote=The 'War of Independence' was not against the occupying Allies – a myth invented by Kemalists – but rather a campaign to rid Turkey of remaining non-Turkish elements. In fact, Nationalists never clashed with Entente occupying forces until the French forces with Armenian contingents and Armenian deportees began to return to Cilicia in late 1919.|doi-access=free|access-date=14 April 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507161711/https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/23/3/797/399905|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kévorkian|first1=Raymond|title=Collective and State Violence in Turkey: The Construction of a National Identity from Empire to Nation-State|date=2020|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-78920-451-3|editor1-last=Astourian|editor1-first=Stephan|page=165|language=en|chapter=The Final Phase: The Cleansing of Armenian and Greek Survivors, 1919–1922|quote=The famous 'war of national liberation', prepared by the Unionists and waged by Kemal, was a vast operation, intended to complete the genocide by finally eradicating Armenian, Greek, and Syriac survivors.|editor2-last=Kévorkian|editor2-first=Raymond|author-link=Raymond Kévorkian}}
* {{cite book|last1=Gingeras|first1=Ryan|title=Fall of the Sultanate: The Great War and the End of the Ottoman Empire, 1908–1922|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-967607-1|page=288|language=en|quote=While the number of victims in Ankara's deportations remains elusive, evidence from other locations suggest that the Nationalists were as equally disposed to collective punishment and population politics as their Young Turk antecedents... As in the First World War, the mass deportation of civilians was symptomatic of how precarious the Nationalists felt their prospects were.|author-link=Ryan Gingeras}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kieser|first1=Hans-Lukas|title=[[Talaat Pasha: Father of Modern Turkey, Architect of Genocide]]|date=2018|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-8963-1|pages=319–320|quote=Thus, from spring 1919, Kemal Pasha resumed, with ex-CUP forces, domestic war against Greek and Armenian rivals. These were partly backed by victors of World War I who had, however, abstained from occupying Asia Minor. The war for Asia Minor{{snd}}in national diction, again a war of salvation and independence, thus in-line with what had begun in 1913{{snd}}accomplished Talaat's demographic Turkification beginning on the eve of World War I. Resuming Talaat's Pontus policy of 1916–17, this again involved collective physical annihilation, this time of the Rûm of Pontus at the Black Sea.|author1-link=Hans-Lukas Kieser}}
* {{lay source |template=cite encyclopedia |last1=Kieser |first1=Hans-Lukas |entry=Pasha, Talat |url=https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/pasha_talat |encyclopedia=1914–1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Levene|first1=Mark|date=2020|title=Through a Glass Darkly: The Resurrection of Religious Fanaticism as First Cause of Ottoman Catastrophe|journal=Journal of Genocide Research|volume=22|issue=4|pages=553–560|doi=10.1080/14623528.2020.1735560|s2cid=222145177|quote=Ittihadist violence was as near as near could be optimal against the Armenians (and Syriacs) and in the final Kemalist phase was quantitively entirely the greater in an increasingly asymmetric conflict where, for instance, Kemal could deport "enemies" into a deep interior in a way that his adversaries could not..., it was the hard men, self-styled saviours of the Ottoman-Turkish state, and – culminating in Kemal – unapologetic génocidaires, who were able to wrest its absolute control.|author-link=Mark Levene}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Ze'evi|first1=Dror|title=The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey's Destruction of Its Christian Minorities, 1894–1924|last2=Morris|first2=Benny|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|year=2019|isbn=978-0674916456|location=Cambridge, MA|pages=672|language=en}}
* [[Levon Marashlian]], "Finishing the Genocide: Cleansing Turkey of Armenian Survivors, 1920–1923," in Remembrance and Denial: The Case of the Armenian Genocide, ed. Richard Hovannisian (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1999), pp. 113–145: "Between 1920 and 1923, as Turkish and Western diplomats were negotiating the fate of the Armenian Question at peace conferences in London, Paris, and Lausanne, thousands of Armenians of the Ottoman Empire who had survived the massacres and deportations of World War I continued to face massacres, deportations, and persecutions across the length and breadth of Anatolia. Events on the ground, diplomatic correspondence, and news reports confirmed that it was the policy of the Turkish Nationalists in Angora, who eventually founded the Republic of Turkey, to eradicate the remnants of the empire's Armenian population and finalize the expropriation of their public and private properties."
* {{cite book |editor-last=Hovannisian |editor-first=Richard G. |title=Remembrance and Denial: The Case of the Armenian Genocide |date=1998 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |location=Detroit |isbn=978-0-8143-2777-7 |last=Marashlian |first=Levon |author-link=Levon Marashlian |chapter=Finishing the Genocide: Cleansing Turkey of Armenian Survivors, 1920–1923 |pages=113–145 |quote=Between 1920 and 1923, as Turkish and Western diplomats were negotiating the fate of the Armenian Question at peace conferences in London, Paris, and Lausanne, thousands of Armenians of the Ottoman Empire who had survived the massacres and deportations of World War I continued to face massacres, deportations, and persecutions across the length and breadth of Anatolia. Events on the ground, diplomatic correspondence, and news reports confirmed that it was the policy of the Turkish Nationalists in Angora, who eventually founded the Republic of Turkey, to eradicate the remnants of the empire's Armenian population and finalize the expropriation of their public and private properties.}}
* {{cite book|last1=Shirinian|first1=George N.|title=Genocide in the Ottoman Empire: Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks, 1913–1923|date=2017|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-78533-433-7|page=62|language=en|quote=The argument that there was a mutually signed agreement for the population exchange ignores the fact that the Ankara government had already declared its intention that no Greek should remain on Turkish soil before the exchange was even discussed. The final killing and expulsion of the Greek population of the Ottoman Empire in 1920–24 was part of a series of hostile actions that began even before Turkey's entry into World War I.}}
* {{cite encyclopedia|title=Ataturk, Mustafa Kemal|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Genocide: A–H|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|url=https://www.armenian-genocide.org/kemal.html|date=1999|author1-link=Rouben Paul Adalian|editor-last=Charny|editor-first=Israel W.|language=en|isbn=978-0-87436-928-1|quote=Mustafa Kemal completed what Talaat and Enver had started in 1915, the eradication of the Armenian population of Anatolia and the termination of Armenian political aspirations in the Caucasus. With the expulsion of the Greeks, the Turkification and Islamification of Asia Minor was nearly complete.|last1=Adalian|first1=Rouben Paul|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516032216/https://www.armenian-genocide.org/kemal.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Morris|first1=Benny|title=The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey's Destruction of Its Christian Minorities, 1894–1924|title-link=The Thirty-Year Genocide|last2=Ze'evi|first2=Dror|date=2019|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-91645-6|quote=The Greek seizure of Smyrna and the repeated pushes inland{{snd}}almost to the outskirts of Ankara, the Nationalist capital{{snd}}coupled with the largely imagined threat of a Pontine breakaway, triggered a widespread, systematic four-year campaign of ethnic cleansing in which hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Greeks were massacred and more than a million deported to Greece... throughout 1914–1924, the overarching aim was to achieve a Turkey free of Greeks.|author-link=Benny Morris|author2-link=Dror Ze'evi}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Meichanetsidis|first1=Vasileios Th.|date=2015|title=The Genocide of the Greeks of the Ottoman Empire, 1913–1923: A Comprehensive Overview|journal=Genocide Studies International|volume=9|issue=1|pages=104–173|doi=10.3138/gsi.9.1.06|s2cid=154870709|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/690|quote=The genocide was committed by two subsequent and chronologically, ideologically, and organically interrelated and interconnected dictatorial and chauvinist regimes: (1) the regime of the CUP, under the notorious triumvirate of the three pashas (Üç Paşalar), Talât, Enver, and Cemal, and (2) the rebel government at Samsun and Ankara, under the authority of the Grand National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) and Kemal. Although the process had begun before the Balkan Wars, the final and most decisive period started immediately after WWI and ended with the almost total destruction of the Pontic Greeks ...|access-date=8 December 2022|archive-date=23 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123070747/https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/690|url-status=live}}</ref> Following these campaigns of ethnic cleansing the historic Christian presence in Anatolia was destroyed, in large part, and the Muslim demographic had increased from 80% to 98%.{{Sfn|Landis|Albert|2012|p=264}}

While [[World War I]] ended for the Ottoman Empire with the [[Armistice of Mudros]], the [[Allies of World War I|Allied Powers]] occupied parts of the empire and sought to prosecute former members of the [[Committee of Union and Progress]] and others involved in the [[Armenian genocide]].<ref>Zürcher, Erik Jan. ''The Unionist Factor: The Role of the Committee of Union and Progress in the Turkish National Movement, 1905–1926''. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1984.</ref><ref name="Avedian">{{cite journal|last1=Avedian|first1=Vahagn|date=2012|title=State Identity, Continuity, and Responsibility: The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide|url=https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/23/3/797/399905|journal=European Journal of International Law|language=en|volume=23|issue=3|pages=797–820|doi=10.1093/ejil/chs056|issn=0938-5428|doi-access=free|access-date=14 April 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507161711/https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/23/3/797/399905|url-status=live}}</ref> Ottoman military commanders therefore refused orders from both the Allies and the [[Government of the late Ottoman Empire|Ottoman government]] to surrender and disband their forces. This crisis reached a head when [[sultan]] [[Mehmed VI]] dispatched [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk)]], a well-respected and high-ranking general, to [[Anatolia]] to restore order; however, Mustafa Kemal became an enabler and eventually leader of [[Turkish National Movement]] against the Ottoman government, Allied powers, and Christian minorities. on 3 May 1920, [[Birinci Ferik]] [[Fevzi Çakmak|Mustafa Fevzi Pasha]] (Çakmak) was appointed the Minister of National Defence, and [[Mirliva]] [[İsmet İnönü|İsmet Pasha]] (İnönü) was appointed the Minister of the Chief of General Staff of the [[government of the Grand National Assembly]] (GNA).<ref name="Akademi">Harp Akademileri Komutanlığı, ''Harp Akademilerinin 120 Yılı'', İstanbul, 1968, pp. 26, 46.</ref>

In an attempt to establish control over the power vacuum in Anatolia, the Allies persuaded [[Prime Minister of Greece|Greek Prime Minister]] [[Eleftherios Venizelos]] to launch an expeditionary force into Anatolia and [[Occupation of Smyrna|occupy Smyrna]] (İzmir), beginning the Turkish War of Independence. A nationalist [[Government of the Grand National Assembly]] (GNA) led by Mustafa Kemal was established in [[Ankara]] when it became clear the Ottoman government was backing the Allied powers. The Allies soon pressured the Ottoman government in Constantinople into suspending the [[Constitution of the Ottoman Empire|Constitution]], shuttering the [[Chamber of Deputies (Ottoman Empire)|Parliament]], and signing the [[Treaty of Sèvres]], a treaty that the "[[Ankara government]]" declared illegal.

In the ensuing war, [[Kuva-yi Milliye|irregular militia]] defeated the [[Franco-Turkish War|French forces in the south]], and undemobilized units went on to [[Turkish–Armenian War|partition Armenia]] with [[Red Army|Bolshevik forces]], resulting in the [[Treaty of Kars]] (October 1921). The Western Front of the independence war was known as the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War]], in which Greek forces at first encountered unorganized resistance. However [[İsmet İnönü|İsmet Pasha]]'s organization of militia into a [[Turkish Land Forces|regular army]] paid off when Ankara forces fought the Greeks in the [[First Battle of İnönü|First]] and [[Second Battle of İnönü]]. The Greek army emerged victorious in the [[Battle of Kütahya–Eskişehir|Battle of Kütahya-Eskişehir]] and decided to attack Ankara, stretching their supply lines. On 3 August 1921, the GNA fired İsmet Pasha from the post of Minister of National Defence because of his failure at the [[Battle of Afyonkarahisar–Eskişehir]] and on 5 August, just before the [[Battle of Sakarya]], appointed the chairman of the GNA Atatürk as [[commander-in-chief]] of the Army of the GNA. The Turks checked the Greek advance in the [[Battle of Sakarya]] and counter-attacked in the [[Great Offensive]], which expelled Greek forces from Anatolia in the span of three weeks. The war effectively ended with the [[Turkish capture of Smyrna]] and the [[Chanak Crisis]], prompting the signing of the [[Armistice of Mudanya]].

The Grand National Assembly in Ankara was recognized as the legitimate Turkish government, which signed the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] in July 1923. The Allies evacuated Anatolia and [[Eastern Thrace]], the Ottoman government was overthrown and the [[Abolition of the Ottoman sultanate|monarchy abolished]], and the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]] (which remains Turkey's primary legislative body today) declared the [[Turkey|Republic of Turkey]] on 29 October 1923. With the war, a [[population exchange between Greece and Turkey]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Suny |first1=Ronald Grigor|author-link=Ronald Grigor Suny |title='They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else': A History of the Armenian Genocide|title-link=They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else |date=2015 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-6558-1 |pages=364–365}} The Armenian Genocide, along with the killing of Assyrians and the expulsion of the Anatolian Greeks, laid the ground for the more homogeneous nation-state that arose from the ashes of the empire. Like many other states, including Australia, Israel, and the United States, the emergence of the Republic of Turkey involved the removal and subordination of native peoples who had lived on its territory prior to its founding.
* {{lay source |template=cite encyclopedia |author=Ronald Grigor Suny |date=26 May 2015 |title=Armenian Genocide |url=https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/armenian_genocide |encyclopedia=1914–1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War}}</ref> the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, and the [[Abolition of the Ottoman sultanate|abolition of the sultanate]], the Ottoman era came to an end, and with [[Atatürk's reforms]], the Turks created the modern, secular nation-state of Turkey. On 3 March 1924, the [[Abolition of the Caliphate|Ottoman caliphate was also abolished]].

===First Kurdish rebellions===
{{see also|Kurdish rebellions in Turkey}}
There were several rebellions [[southeastern Turkey]] in the 1920s and 1930s, the most important of which were the 1925 [[Sheikh Said rebellion]] and the 1937 [[Dersim rebellion]]. All were suppressed by the TAF, sometimes involving large-scale mobilisations of up to 50,000 troops.

=== World War II ===
{{see also|Second Cairo Conference}}

Turkey remained neutral until the final stages of [[World War II]]. In the initial stage of World War II, Turkey signed a treaty of mutual assistance with Great Britain and France.<ref>See Murat Metin Hakki, "[http://www.ucc.ie/chronicon/3/hakkfra.html Surviving the Pressure of the Superpowers: An Analysis of Turkish Neutrality During the Second World War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233509/http://www.ucc.ie/chronicon/3/hakkfra.html |date=3 March 2016 }}", ''Chronicon'' 3 (1999–2007) 44–62, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University, {{ISSN|1393-5259}}</ref> But after the [[Battle of France|fall of France]], the Turkish government tried to maintain an equal distance with both the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] and the [[Axis Powers|Axis]]. Following [[Nazi Germany]]'s occupation of the [[Balkans]], upon which the Axis-controlled territory in [[Thrace]] and the eastern islands of the [[Aegean Sea]] bordered Turkey, the Turkish government signed a Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggression with Germany on 18 June 1941.

After the [[German invasion of the Soviet Union]], the Turkish government sent a military delegation of observers under Lieutenant General Ali Fuat Erden to Germany and the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]].<ref>[[Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir Erkilet]], ''Şark cephesinde gördüklerim'', Hilmi Kitabevi, 1943.</ref> Following the German retreat from the [[Caucasus]], the Turkish government then moved closer to the Allies and [[Winston Churchill]] secretly met with [[İsmet İnönü]] at the [[Adana Conference]] in Yenice Train Station in southern Turkey on 30 January 1943, with the intent of persuading Turkey to join the war on the side of the Allies. A few days before the start of [[Operation Zitadelle]] in July 1943, the Turkish government sent a military delegation under General Cemil Cahit Toydemir to Russia and observed the exercises of the [[503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion]] and its equipment.<ref>Johannes Glasneck, Inge Kircheisen, ''Türkei und Afghanistan'', Dt. V. d. Wissenschaften, 1968, [https://books.google.com/books?id=4U_RAAAAMAAJ&q=Toydemir+1943+Kursk p. 139.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502051054/https://books.google.com/books?id=4U_RAAAAMAAJ&q=Toydemir+1943+Kursk&dq=Toydemir+1943+Kursk&hl=tr&ei=acL9TMr3G9HzcYzZuKMG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA |date=2 May 2016 }}</ref> But after the failure of Operation Zitadelle, the Turkish government participated in the [[Second Cairo Conference]] in December 1943, where [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], Churchill and İnönü reached an agreement on issues regarding Turkey's possible contribution to the Allies. On 23 February 1945, Turkey joined the Allies by declaring war against Germany and [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], after it was announced at the [[Yalta Conference]] that only the states which were formally at war with Germany and Japan by 1 March 1945 would be admitted to the [[United Nations]].<ref>Mustafa Aydın, SAM, "Turkish Foreign Policy: Framework and Analysis", Center for Strategic Research, 2004, p. 47.</ref>

===Korean War===
{{main|Turkish Brigade|Battle of Wawon}}
[[File:터키군 (7445442282).jpg|thumb|Turkish soldiers observing the front during the [[Korean War]]]]
Turkey participated in the [[Korean War]] as a member state of the United Nations and sent the [[Turkish Brigade]] to South Korea, and suffered 731 losses while displaying exceptional valor in combat. On 18 February 1952, Turkey became a member of [[NATO]].<ref>For some of the NATO command structure discussions re-entry of Turkey, see Sean Maloney, Securing Command of the Sea, Masters' thesis, University of New Brunswick, 1992</ref> The South Korean government donated a war memorial for Turkish soldiers who fought and died in Korea. The Korean [[pagoda]] was donated in 1973 for the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and is located in [[Ankara]].

===Cyprus===
{{Main|Cyprus dispute|Military operations during the Invasion of Cyprus (1974)}}

On 20 July 1974, the TAF launched an [[amphibious warfare|amphibious]] and [[airborne forces|airborne]] [[Operation Atilla|assault operation]] on [[Cyprus]], in response to the [[1974 Cypriot coup d'état]] which had been staged by [[EOKA-B]] and the [[Cypriot National Guard]] against president [[Makarios III]] with the intention of [[Enosis|annexing the island]] to Greece; but the military intervention ended up with Turkey occupying a considerable area on the northern part of Cyprus and helping to establish a local government of [[Turkish Cypriots]] there, which has thus far been recognized only by Turkey. The intervention came after more than a [[Cypriot intercommunal violence|decade of intercommunal violence]] (1963–1974) between the island's [[Greek Cypriots]] and [[Turkish Cypriots]], resulting from the constitutional breakdown of 1963. Turkey invoked its role as a guarantor under the [[Treaty of Guarantee (1960)|Treaty of Guarantee]] in justification for the military intervention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/how-did-the-situation-change-after-july-1974-_.en.mfa|title=From Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716092035/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/how-did-the-situation-change-after-july-1974-_.en.mfa|archive-date=16 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Turkish forces landed on the island in two waves, invading and occupying 37% of the island's territory in the northeast for the Turkish Cypriots, who had been isolated in small enclaves across the island prior to the military intervention.<ref name=Gis>{{cite book |title=Divided Cyprus: Modernity, History, and an Island in Conflict |year=2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/dividedcyprusmod00papa |url-access=limited |last= Welz |first= Gisela |publisher= Indiana University Press |isbn= 0-253-21851-9|page= [https://archive.org/details/dividedcyprusmod00papa/page/n14 2]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Carpenter, Ted Galen |title=NATO's Empty Victory: A Postmortem on the Balkan War |url=https://archive.org/details/natosemptyvictor00carp_0 |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Cato Institute]] |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2000 |page= [https://archive.org/details/natosemptyvictor00carp_0/page/36 36]|isbn=1-882577-85-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Carpenter, Ted Galen |title=Peace and Freedom: Foreign Policy for a Constitutional Republic |url=https://archive.org/details/peacefreedomfore0000carp |url-access=registration |publisher=Cato Institute |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2002 |page=[https://archive.org/details/peacefreedomfore0000carp/page/187 187] |isbn=1-930865-34-1 }}</ref>

In the aftermath, the Turkish Cypriots declared a separate political entity in the form of the [[Turkish Federated State of Cyprus]] in 1975; and in 1983 made a unilateral declaration of independence as the [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]], which is recognized only by Turkey to this day. The United Nations continues to recognize the sovereignty of the [[Republic of Cyprus]] according to the terms of its independence in 1960. The conflict continues to overshadow Turkish relations with Greece and with the [[European Union]]. In 2004, during the [[Cypriot Annan Plan referendum, 2004|referendum]] for the [[Annan Plan for Cyprus]] (a United Nations proposal to resolve the [[Cyprus dispute]]) 76% of the [[Greek Cypriots]] rejected the proposal, while 65% of the [[Turkish Cypriots]] accepted it.

=== Kurdish–Turkish conflict ===
{{main|Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)}}

The TAF are in a protracted campaign against the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party|PKK]] (recognized as a [[terrorist organization]] by the United States, the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html|title=People's Daily Online – NATO chief declares PKK terrorist group|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019180937/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html|archive-date=19 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232988421.45/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201221025/http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232988421.45|url-status=dead|title=The EU's list of terrorist groups|archive-date=1 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0057:01:EN:HTML|title=Council Decision 2011/70/CFSP of 31 January 2011 updating the list of persons, groups and entities subject to Articles 2, 3 and 4 of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism – Official Journal L 028, 02/02/2011 P. 0057–0059|access-date=12 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122110609/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0057:01:EN:HTML|archive-date=22 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=scheffer>{{cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html|title=NATO chief declares PKK terrorist group|work=[[Xinhua]]|date=20 December 2005|access-date=12 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019180937/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html|archive-date=19 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EU">[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0057:01:EN:HTML European Union List of Terrorist Organisations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122110609/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:028:0057:01:EN:HTML |date=22 November 2011 }}, [[Council of the european union]], updated Council Decision 2011/70/CFSP of 31 January 2011</ref> which has involved frequent forays into neighbouring [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. The leader of the terrorist organisation [[PKK]]; [[Abdullah Öcalan]] was arrested in 1999 in [[Nairobi]] [[Kenya]], taken to Turkey and publicly trialed for several crimes. In 2015, the PKK cancelled their one-sided 2013 ceasefire after tension due to various events (''Hendek Operasyonları'') and threatened to attack dams in Turkey. <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/kck-ateskesin-bittigini-acikladi-bundan-sonra-tum-barajlar-gerillanin-hedefinde-olacaktir,302608|title=KCK ateşkesin bittiğini açıkladı: Bundan sonra tüm barajlar gerillanın hedefinde olacaktır|work=t24.com.tr|access-date=30 March 2017|language=tr-TR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322020849/http://t24.com.tr/haber/kck-ateskesin-bittigini-acikladi-bundan-sonra-tum-barajlar-gerillanin-hedefinde-olacaktir,302608|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===War in Bosnia and Kosovo===
[[File:Turkish soldiers assigned to Regional Command East of the KFOR mission patrolled along the administrative boundary line during a routine patrol (8611802).jpg|thumb|TAF soldiers during a KFOR patrol.]]
{{main|Bosnian War|Kosovo War}}
{{see also|Implementation Force|Kosovo Force|SFOR}}
Turkey contributed troops in several NATO-led peace forces in [[Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo]]. Currently there are 402 Turkish troops in [[Kosovo Force]].

===War in Afghanistan===
{{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}}
{{See also|International Security Assistance Force}}
After the [[2003 Istanbul Bombings]] were linked to [[Al-Qaeda]], Turkey deployed troops to [[Afghanistan]] to fight [[Taliban]] forces and Al-Qaeda operatives, with the hopes of dismantling both groups. Turkey's responsibilities included providing security in Kabul (it formerly lead [[Train Advise Assist Command - Capital|Regional Command Capital]]), as well as in [[Wardak Province]], where it lead PRT Maidan Shahr. Turkey was once the third largest contingent within the [[International Security Assistance Force]]. Turkey's troops were not engaged in combat operations and Ankara has long resisted pressure from Washington to offer more combat troops. According to the [[Washington Post]], in December 2009, after US President [[Barack Obama]] announced he would deploy 30,000 more U.S. soldiers, and that Washington wants others to follow suit, Turkish Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] reacted with the message that Turkey would not contribute additional troops to Afghanistan. "Turkey has already done what it can do by boosting its contingent of soldiers there to 1,750 from around 700 without being asked", said [[Erdoğan]], who stressed that Turkey would continue its training of Afghan security forces.

Turkey withdrew their troops from [[Afghanistan]] after the [[fall of Kabul (2021)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/turkey-begins-withdrawing-military-forces-from-afghanistan/news|title=Turkey begins withdrawing military forces from Afghanistan|website=[[Daily Sabah]]|date=25 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/25/turkish-military-begins-evacuating-from-afghanistan|title = Turkish military begins Afghanistan evacuations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkish-military-began-evacuating-afghanistan-2021-08-25/|title=Turkey evacuating from Afghanistan, could provide support at Kabul airport|newspaper=Reuters|date=25 August 2021}}</ref>

===Cross-border operations in the Middle East===

====Syria====
[[File:Joseph Dunford, Hulusi Akar and Valery Gerasimov 170307-D-PB383-021 (33179920601).jpg|thumb|left|Marine Corps Gen. [[Joseph Dunford Jr.]] (left) chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participates in a trilateral meeting with Gen. [[Hulusi Akar]] of the Turkish army (center) and Gen. [[Valery Gerasimov]] of the Russian army in Antalya, Turkey, March 6, 2017. The three chiefs of defense are discussing their nations’ operations in northern Syria.]]

The TAF have carried out major military operations against [[ISIS]], [[YPG]] and the [[Assad Regime]] in Syria; [[Operation Euphrates Shield]] in 2016, [[Operation Olive Branch]] in 2018, [[Operation Peace Spring]] in 2019 and [[Operation Spring Shield]] in 2020. As a result of these operations, regions as [[Jarabulus]], [[Battle of al-Bab|Al-Bab]], [[Tell Abyad]], [[Ras al-Ayn]] and [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] were captured by [[Syrian Opposition|Rebel Forces]] of the [[Syrian Interim Government]] and TAF.

The TAF implemented new tactics and techniques like the mass use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Thanks to these drone raids, which were used in coordination with electronic warfare, systems such as the [[Pantsir]] and [[Buk missile system|Buk]] used by [[Ba'athist Syria]] were neutralized. International relations and policy think tanks as the [[Middle East Institute]], [[Institute for the Study of War]], [[Rand Corporation]], [[Jamestown Foundation]]<ref name="Middle East Institute June 18, 2020">{{Cite web|first=Gregory|last=Waters|title=The Syrian Regime's Combat Losses in Spring 2020, and What Lies Ahead|date=18 June 2020|url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/syrian-regimes-combat-losses-spring-2020-and-what-lies-ahead|access-date=2020-10-18|publisher=[[Middle East Institute]]|language=en|archive-date=18 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118195553/https://www.mei.edu/publications/syrian-regimes-combat-losses-spring-2020-and-what-lies-ahead}}</ref><ref name="Turkey Commits to Idlib2020">{{cite news | last1=Cafarella| first1=Jennifer| last2=Dunford| first2=John| last3=Land| first3=Michael | last4=Wallace| first4=Blane| title=Turkey Commits to Idlib| website=[[Institute for the Study of War]] | date=2020-03-18 | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/turkey-commits-idlib | access-date=2024-12-25| archive-date=14 January 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114050458/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/turkey-commits-idlib}}</ref><ref name="randcor2020">{{cite web | last1 = Parachini | first1 = John V. | last2 = Wilson | first2 = Peter A. | url = https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/07/drone-era-warfare-shows-the-operational-limits-of-air.html | title = Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems | publisher = [[RAND Corporation]] | date = 2 July 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231210155258/https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/07/drone-era-warfare-shows-the-operational-limits-of-air.html | archive-date = 10 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="turkeysdroneblitz">{{cite web | last= Kasapoglu | first= Can | title= Turkey's Drone Blitz Over Idlib | publisher = [[Jamestown Foundation]] | date =17 April 2020| url = https://jamestown.org/program/turkeys-drone-blitz-over-idlib/ | access-date =14 March 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250307013629/https://jamestown.org/program/turkeys-drone-blitz-over-idlib/ | archive-date = 7 March 2025}}</ref> and many military analysts stated that the TAF have made significant changes in military doctrines and have created a new military approach based on drones and electronic warfare with the military operations it has carried out or helped to carry out in regions such as [[Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war|Syria]], [[Turkish intervention in Libya (2020–present)|Libya]], [[List of Turkish operations in northern Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War|Karabakh]]. The developments it has made in drone technology in particular have been interpreted as Türkiye's defense industry and armed forces becoming among the world's leading forces.<ref name="The Turkey Analyst 2020-03-25">{{cite news | last=Tanchum| first=Michaël |  title= Turkey's In-between State of War and Peace with Russia | website=The Turkey Analyst| date=2020-03-25 | url=https://www.turkeyanalyst.org/publications/turkey-analyst-articles/item/636-turkeys-in-between-state-of-war-and-peace-with-russia.html | access-date=2024-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Turkey shoots down two Syrian warplanes, destroys armor, kills troops as conflict escalates| newspaper=Washington Post| date=2020-03-01 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-shoots-down-two-syrian-warplanes-in-growing-conflict/2020/03/01/d0fd189a-5bbe-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html | access-date=2024-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Turkey drone success has 'elevated' it in the world, says Fukuyama
|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210413-turkey-drone-success-has-elevated-it-in-the-world-says-fukuyama/ |access-date=9 January 2025 |publisher=Middle East Monitor |date=13 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Web source |url= https://newlinesinstitute.org/state-resilience-fragility/turkeys-high-stakes-in-northwest-syria/|date=12 March 2020 |title= Turkey’s High Stakes in Northwest Syria| website=[[New Lines Institute]] |accessdate= December 27, 2024|first=Charles|last=Lister|archive-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116051544/https://newlinesinstitute.org/state-resilience-fragility/turkeys-high-stakes-in-northwest-syria/}}</ref>

===Humanitarian relief===
The TAF have performed "Disaster Relief Operations," as in the [[1999 İzmit earthquake]] in the [[Marmara Region]] of Turkey. Apart from contributing to NATO, the Turkish Navy also contributes to the [[Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group]], which was created in early 2001 by Turkey, [[Bulgaria]], Georgia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine for search and rescue and other humanitarian operations in the [[Black Sea]].

==Structure==
[[File:Ankara_asv2021-10_img03_General_Staff_building.jpg|thumb|The [[General Staff Building (Ankara)|General Staff Building]], situated in [[Çankaya District|Çankaya]], is the headquarters of the Turkish Armed Forces.]]
Publicly available audit by the [[Court of Accounts (Turkey)|Court of Accounts]] in 2023 suggests that the Turkish Armed Forces consisted of 210,989 military staff in active service and 121,161 in reserve duties, aggregating a total of 332,150.<ref name="personnel">{{Cite web |title=MİLLİ SAVUNMA BAKANLIĞI : T.C. Sayıştay Başkanlığı |url=https://www.sayistay.gov.tr/reports/NrQl9kNYyJ-milli-savunma-bakanligi |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=www.sayistay.gov.tr}}</ref> The term reserve describes those in mandatory service under officer, non-commissioned officer, and enlisted positions. By a 2016 reorganisation, the [[Gendarmerie General Command]] and the [[Coast Guard Command (Turkey)|Coast Guard Command]] were subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and therefore, their personnel count is no longer included within the military.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-28 |title=MSB, jandarmayı geri istiyor, İçişleri, "vazgeçmem" diyor. Jandarma, neden paylaşılamıyor? Emekli Jandarma Albay Ergen anlattı |url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/365711/haber/msb-jandarmay%C4%B1-geri-istiyor-i%CC%87%C3%A7i%C5%9Fleri-vazge%C3%A7mem-diyor-jandarma-neden |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Independent Türkçe |language=tr}}</ref>

The Turkish Armed Forces is headed by the [[Chief of the Turkish General Staff|Chief of the General Staff]], the principal military officer. It reports to the [[Ministry of National Defense (Turkey)|Minister of National Defense]], a cabinet-level civilian position. The service branches, the [[Turkish Land Forces|Land Forces]], the [[Turkish Naval Forces|Naval Forces]], and the [[Turkish Air Force|Air Force]], all subordinate to the ministry under operational supervision of the [[General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces|General Staff]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2018 |title=Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerinde 'tarihi' değişiklik |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/turk-silahli-kuvvetlerinde-tarihi-degisiklik/1204432 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> In contrast to the rest of the military, where all elements are bound to a service branch, the [[Special Forces Command (Turkey)|Special Forces Command]] is responsible to the General Staff.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-16 |title=Bordo Bereliler olarak bilinen Özel Kuvvetler Komutanlığı kapılarını Milliyet’e açtı: Oğulbey kahramanları |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/bordo-bereliler-olarak-bilinen-ozel-kuvvetler-komutanligi-kapilarini-milliyete-acti-ogulbey-kahramanlari-7330971 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Milliyet |language=tr}}</ref>

As of 2024, there are 327 general officers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Yüksek Askeri Şura kararları Resmi Gazete'de yayımlandı: 23 general ve amiral bir üst rütbeye yükseltildi |url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c29d9pp7813o |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=BBC News Türkçe |language=tr}}</ref> The positions are dominated by the Land Forces, while the Air Force is the smallest service branch. In 2016, the Turkish Armed Forces had 326 generals, which plunged to 196 following the [[2016 Turkish coup attempt]]. Although the military suffered personnel shortage, it over the years managed to restore its staff capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2018 |title=TSK'da general ve amiral sayısı yüzde 40 azaldı |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/tskda-general-ve-amiral-sayisi-yuzde-40-azaldi/867529 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> The cadres were all-male dominated, albeit there was no restriction on women. In 2022, Özlem Yılmaz made history by getting promoted to brigadier general within the gendarmerie. The next year, the Naval Forces received its first female rear admiral.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-14 |title=Tarihe geçen terfi: İlk kadın general |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/tarihe-gecen-terfi-ilk-kadin-general-6806863 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Milliyet |language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2025 |title=Cumhuriyet'in ilk kadın generali Yılmaz: Genç kız kardeşlerimizin, jandarma ailesine katılmalarını bekliyoruz |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/insana-dair/cumhuriyetin-ilk-kadin-generali-yilmaz-genc-kiz-kardeslerimizin-jandarma-ailesine-katilmalarini-bekliyoruz/3502661 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>[[File:Soldiers_from_the_Turkish_Army_SPH_Battalion_conduct_a_live_fire_exercise_with_the_AK40-GL_Bombaatar_during_Exercise_Steadfast_Defender_2021.jpg|thumb|Turkish soldiers utilize indigenous grenade launchers during a multinational exercise in Romania.]]
=== Land Forces ===
{{Main|Turkish Land Forces}}The [[Turkish Land Forces|Land Forces Command]] ([[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı'') is the largest service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces, superdominating the other branches. It was ''de facto'' established in 1920, during the [[Turkish War of Independence]], as a merger of the pre-existing irregular [[Kuva-yi Milliye]] forces.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Balcıoğlu |first=Mustafa |date=2014-11-27 |title=Milli Mücadelede Merkez Ordusu'nun İstihbarat Faaliyetleri |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/omuefd/issue/20255/215059 |journal=Ondokuz Mayis University Journal of Education Faculty |language=tr |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=1 |issn=2548-0278}}</ref> The government, however, acknowledges 209 BC as the symbolic date it was founded ─ the year when [[Mete Khan]] ascended to the throne of the [[Xiongnu Empire]]. His heritage stands well-appreciated in Turkish historiography for the contributions to the later Turkish know-how, as he is thought to be the first Turkic ruler to introduce the local tribes into a complex military entity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yönetmeni |first=Teoman Korkmaz / Genel Yayın |date=2023-06-28 |title=2232 Yıllık “Combat Proven” Ordu: Türk Kara Kuvvetleri |url=https://www.savunmasanayi.org/2232-yillik-combat-proven-ordu-turk-kara-kuvvetleri/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Savunma Sanayi |language=tr}}</ref>

In 2022, the force is composed of four armies, nine corps, eight [[List of commando units#Turkey|commando brigades]], one [[Hakkari Mountain and Commando Brigade|mountain commando brigade]], seven armoured brigades, 14 mechanised brigades, seven motorised infantry brigades, and three artillery brigades.<ref>{{Cite book |last=[[IISS]] |title=The Military Balance 2022 |date=2022 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-032-27900-8 |location=[[London]]}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}

'''Combatant commands'''
* [[First Army (Turkey)|First Army]], [[Istanbul]]
* [[Second Army (Turkey)|Second Army]], [[Malatya]]
* [[Third Army (Turkey)|Third Army]], [[Erzincan]]
* [[Aegean Army]], [[İzmir]]

{{col-break}}

'''Support commands'''
* Training and Doctrine Command
* Logistics Command
* [[Turkish Army Aviation Command|Army Aviation Command]]
* Air Defence Command
* CBRN Defence & Security Command

{{col-break}}

'''Headquarters service units'''
* Personnel Command
* Intelligence Command
* Operations Command
* General Planning & Principles Command
* Communications & IT Command

{{col-end}}

=== Naval Forces ===
{{Main|Turkish Naval Forces}}
[[File:Senior leaders of the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group tour the bridge of TCG Anadolu.jpg|thumb|Senior leaders of the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group tour the bridge of [[amphibious assault ship]] [[TCG Anadolu]] (L400) in 2024.]]
The [[Turkish Naval Forces]], or Turkish Navy, constitutes the [[naval warfare]] service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Navy maintains several Marines and Special Operations units. The ''Amphibious Marines Brigade'' (Amfibi Deniz Piyade Tugayı) based in [[Foça]] near [[İzmir]] consists of 4,500 men, three amphibious battalions, an [[Main Battle Tank|MBT]] battalion, an [[artillery]] battalion, a support battalion and other company-sized units.<ref name=BondsMiller>Ray Bonds, David Miller, ''Illustrated Directory of Special Forces'', Zenith Imprint, 2003, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FMgpdulJsGgC&dq=%22Amphibious+Marine+Brigade%22+Turkish+Navy&pg=PA99 p. 99.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019205507/https://books.google.com/books?id=FMgpdulJsGgC&pg=PA99&dq=%22Amphibious+Marine+Brigade%22+Turkish+Navy&hl=tr&ei=XrIATfeXEMTIcca2-M0E&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Amphibious%20Marine%20Brigade%22%20Turkish%20Navy&f=false |date=19 October 2017 }}</ref> The ''[[Su Altı Taarruz]]'' (S.A.T. – Underwater Attack) is dedicated to missions including the acquisition of military intelligence, amphibious assault, counter-terrorism and VIP protection; while the ''[[Su Altı Savunma]]'' (S.A.S. – Underwater Defense) is dedicated to coastal defense operations (such as clearing mines or unexploded torpedoes) and disabling enemy vessels or weapons with underwater operations; as well as counter-terrorism and VIP protection missions.<ref name=BondsMiller/>

=== Air Force ===
{{Main|Turkish Air Force}}
[[File:07-1029 General Dynamics F-16D Turkish Air Force Konya 30.6.22.jpg|thumb|Turkish F-16D Block 50.]]
The [[Turkish Air Force]] is the [[aerial warfare]] service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It is primarily responsible for the protection and sovereignty of Turkish [[airspace]] but also provides air-power to the other [[Military branch|service branches]]. Turkey is one of five NATO member states which are part of the [[nuclear sharing]] policy of the alliance, together with Belgium, [[Germany and weapons of mass destruction|Germany]], Italy, and the [[Netherlands and weapons of mass destruction|Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/yankee-bombs-go-home-foreign-minister-wants-us-nukes-out-of-germany-a-618550.html|title=Yankee Bombs Go Home: Foreign Minister Wants US Nukes out of Germany|date=10 April 2009|work=Der Spiegel|access-date=18 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828081635/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/yankee-bombs-go-home-foreign-minister-wants-us-nukes-out-of-germany-a-618550.html|archive-date=28 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A total of 90 [[B61 nuclear bomb]]s are hosted at the [[Incirlik Air Base]], 40 of which are allocated for use by the Turkish Air Force in case of a nuclear conflict, but their use requires the approval of [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/euro/euro_pt1.pdf|title=NRDC: U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe • Hans M. Kristensen / Natural Resources Defense Council, 2005.|access-date=28 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211040934/http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/euro/euro_pt1.pdf|archive-date=11 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Air Force took part in the [[Operation Deliberate Force]] of 1995 and [[1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Operation Allied Force]] of 1999, and later participated in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]], employing two squadrons (one in the [[Ghedi]] fighter wing, and after 2000 one in the [[Aviano]] fighter wing.)<ref name=1980-Today>{{cite web|url=http://www.hvkk.tsk.tr/EN/IcerikDetay.aspx?ID=131|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111013955/http://www.hvkk.tsk.tr/EN/IcerikDetay.aspx?ID=131|url-status=dead|title=1980-today in the official website of the Turkish Air Force|archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> They returned to Turkey in 2001. In 2006, 4 Turkish F-16 fighter jets were deployed for NATO's [[Baltic Air Policing]] operation.

==Military bases and soldiers stationed abroad==
{{main|List of countries with overseas military bases#Turkey}}
As of February 2021, Turkey has at least over 50,000+ military personnel stationed outside its territory.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/316736/her-yedi-askerden-biri-s%C4%B1n%C4%B1rlar%C4%B1n-%C3%B6tesinde-tskn%C4%B1n-yurtd%C4%B1%C5%9F%C4%B1ndaki-g%C3%BCc%C3%BC-50-bini-a%C5%9Ft%C4%B1#.Y|title = Her yedi askerden biri sınırların ötesinde: TSK'nın yurtdışındaki gücü 50.000'i aştı|publisher=Independent Türkçe|language=tr|date=12 February 2021|access-date=14 March 2025}}</ref> The only military base stationed permanently abroad, regardless of the organizations that are members of Turkey, which has been temporarily holding troops several times abroad due to its responsibilities arising from many international political members, particularly [[NATO]] membership, is the [[Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command]]. The military bases of the Turkish Armed Forces in [[Qatar]], [[Syria]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.memri.org/reports/al-sharq-al-awsat-report-specifies-locations-foreign-military-bases-syria-says-syria-turning|title='Al-Sharq Al-Awsat' Report Specifies Locations of Foreign Military Bases in Syria, Says Syria Is Turning into Brittle Federation That Can Fall Apart at Any Moment|work=MEMRI – The Middle East Media Research Institute|access-date=30 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> [[Somalia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/details-emerge-of-turkish-military-base-in-somalia/664139|title=Details emerge of Turkish military base in Somalia|date=13 October 2016|publisher=Anadolu Agency|author=Tufan Aktas|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307204746/http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/details-emerge-of-turkish-military-base-in-somalia/664139|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Bashiqa]], among an unknown number of other bases internationally, are currently active. It was announced in 2017 that Turkey would start working on establishing a research base in [[Antarctica]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/science/2017/02/20/turkey-plans-to-set-up-first-research-base-in-antarctica|title=Turkey plans to set up first research base in Antarctica|date=10 February 2017|newspaper=[[Daily Sabah]]|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307210712/https://www.dailysabah.com/science/2017/02/20/turkey-plans-to-set-up-first-research-base-in-antarctica|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to a study conducted in England, Turkey has the largest deployment of international troops after the United States,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/mehmetcik-3-kita-12-ulkede-gorev-yapiyor-451471.html|title=Mehmetçik 3 kıta 12 ülkede görev yapıyor|website=www.trthaber.com|date=3 January 2020 }}</ref> with an estimated strength of at least 60,000+ military personnel stationed outside of the borders of Turkey. This means that 1 in 6 of the active military troops of Turkey (which is estimated to be 355,200 in 2020)<ref name="ReferenceA">[[#IISS2020|IISS 2020]], pp. 164–168</ref> are deployed outside of the borders of the country.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

Turkey currently has a military presence in the following countries;

[[File:Turkish bases worldwide.svg|thumb|Countries with Turkish military bases, facilities and troops.]]

* {{flagu|Albania}} – 24 troops in [[Pasha Liman Base]], with 2 frigates.<ref name="kureselsiyaset.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.kureselsiyaset.org/turkiyenin-yurtdisindaki-usleri-ve-askeri-varligi/|title=Türkiye'nin Yurt Dışındaki Üsleri ve Askeri Varlığı|date=9 May 2021}}</ref> An Albanian-Turkish military cooperation agreement was signed in 1992 that encompassed rebuilding [[Albania]]'s [[Pasha Liman Base]] by Turkey alongside granted access for Turkish use.<ref name="LarrabeeLesser94">{{cite book|last1=Larrabee|first1=F. Stephen|url=https://archive.org/details/turkishforeignpo00larr|title=Turkish foreign policy in an age of uncertainty|last2=Lesser|first2=Ian O.|publisher=Rand Corporation|year=2003|isbn=9780833034045|location=Santa Monica|pages=[https://archive.org/details/turkishforeignpo00larr/page/94 94]|quote=albania.|url-access=registration}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Azerbaijan}} – Buildings and structures in Gizil Sherg military town, and one terminal building located in the airfield in [[Hacı Zeynalabdin]] settlement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turkey to establish military base in Azerbaijan – EURASIA|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-establish-military-base-in-azerbaijan.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101906&NewsCatID=353|website=Hürriyet Daily News| date=21 July 2016 }}</ref> An observation base was also built by Turkey in the [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region after the 44-day [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]]. The base was established in [[Aghdam]] under the name "Ceasefire Observation Center", and officially started to operate in January 2021 with 60 Turkish and Russian soldiers stationed at the base.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-armenia-azerbaijan-monitoring-centre-idUSKBN29Z0FL|title = Russia and Turkey open monitoring centre for Nagorno-Karabakh|newspaper = Reuters|date = 30 January 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} – Under EUROFOR [[Operation Althea]] 242 troops, previously under [[Implementation Force]] and [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] at Mehmet The Conqueror Barracks.<ref name="Amerika'nin Sesi | Voice of America – Turkish">{{cite web|title=Türkiye'nin Libya ve Irak Dahil 9 Ülkede Askeri Varlığı Var|url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.com/a/turkiye-nin-libya-ve-irak-dahil-9-ulkede-askeri-varligi-var/5235743.html|access-date=26 March 2021|website=Amerika'nin Sesi {{!}} Voice of America – Turkish|date=7 January 2020 |language=tr}}</ref><ref name="Gazetesi">{{cite web |last=Gazetesi |first=Evrensel |title=Türkiye'nin hangi ülkede, kaç askeri var, hangi gerekçelerle bulunuyor? |url=https://www.evrensel.net/haber/395467/turkiyenin-hangi-ulkede-kac-askeri-var-hangi-gerekcelerle-bulunuyor |access-date=26 March 2021 |website=Evrensel.net |language=tr-TR}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Iraq}} – Turkey has signed agreement with Iraq which includes allowing the Turkish army to pursue elements of the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK) in northern Iraq, with the permission of, and in coordination with the Federal Government of Iraq. It also includes opening two liaison offices between Baghdad and Ankara to exchange intelligence and security information between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2007-10-09|title=Iraq says pact with Turkey best way to tackle PKK|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-turkey-idUSL0948553220071009|access-date=2022-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=اتفاق أمني عراقي تركي لملاحقة حزب العمال الكردستاني|url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2007/9/27/اتفاق-أمني-عراقي-تركي-لملاحقة-حزب|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Al Jazeera |language=ar}}</ref> As of 2020, Turkey has a military base with 2,000 personnel in [[Bashiqa]] and [[Bamarni Air Base]] garrisoned with around 60 [[tank]]s, [[Armoured personnel carrier]]s and one commando battalion.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 March 2015 |title=FLAŞ – Türkiye'den Duhok'a tank ve silah takviyesi |url=https://www.rudaw.net/turkish/kurdistan/160320153|access-date=13 February 2021 |website=Rudaw.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What is Turkey doing in Iraq?|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/verda-ozer/what-is-turkey-doing-in-iraq-104733 |first1= Verda |last1=Özer |website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=8 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326185040/https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/verda-ozer/what-is-turkey-doing-in-iraq-104733 |archive-date= Mar 26, 2023 }}</ref> Turkey has more than 40+ military and intelligence bases scattered all around [[Iraq]], the most out of any country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/06072020#images |title=Ankara has built nearly 40 'military points' in Kurdistan Region: Turkish presidency - PKK camps and Turkish military points in Northern Iraq |via=Rudaw.net |date=2020 |first1=Karwan |last1=Faidhi Dri |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510051940/https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/06072020 |archive-date= May 10, 2023 }}</ref> There are plans to build a new base in the Metina area of [[Duhok]] governorate in [[Kurdistan Region|Iraqi Kurdistan Region]] as of April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/turkey-establish-new-military-base-iraqi-kurdistan|title=Turkey to establish new military base in Iraqi Kurdistan|website=Al-Monitor |url-access=subscription |first1=Amberin |last1=Zaman |date=30 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120115713/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/turkey-establish-new-military-base-iraqi-kurdistan |archive-date= Jan 20, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faidhi Dri |first=Karwan |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Ankara seeks to limit PKK movement with new Duhok military base: minister |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/30042021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117214115/https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/30042021 |archive-date=Nov 17, 2022 |website=Rudaw.net}}</ref> In total, Turkey has stationed around 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cats-network.eu/topics/visualizing-turkeys-foreign-policy-activism/excursus-turkeys-military-engagement-abroad|title = Excursus: Turkey's Military Engagement Abroad}}</ref><ref name="indyturk.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/316736/her-yedi-askerden-biri-s%C4%B1n%C4%B1rlar%C4%B1n-%C3%B6tesinde-tskn%C4%B1n-|title = Her yedi askerden biri sınırların ötesinde: TSK'nın yurtdışındaki gücü 50 bini aştı}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Kosovo}} – An estimated 321 troops serve in the Kosovo Security Battalion command. They are stationed at Sultan Murat base in the city of [[Prizren]] for [[UNMIK]] mission and [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] [[NATO peacekeeping|peacekeeping force]]'s.<ref name="Gazetesi" /><ref name="Amerika'nin Sesi | Voice of America – Turkish" /><ref>{{cite web|date=17 January 2020|title=Türkiye'nin hangi ülkelerde askeri üssü var?|url=https://tr.euronews.com/2020/01/17/turkiye-nin-yabanci-topraklarda-askeri-varligi-ne-hangi-ulkelerde-us-bulunduruyor|access-date=26 March 2021|website=euronews|language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=COM KFOR Meets Turkish Chief of the Army|url=https://jfcnaples.nato.int/kfor/media-center/archive/news/2016/com-kfor-meets-turkish-chief-of-the-army-.aspx|date=2016|access-date=26 March 2021|website=jfcnaples.nato.int}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Libya}} – Airbases at [[Al-Watiya Air Base|al-Watiya]], [[Mitiga]] and [[Misrata]], in addition to [[Zwara]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=The fall of al-Watiya base ushers an era of permanent Turkish presence in western Libya|work=The Arab Weekly|url=https://thearabweekly.com/fall-al-watiya-base-ushers-era-permanent-turkish-presence-western-libya|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> The number of Turkish soldiers stationed in [[Libya]] is unknown.<ref name="indyturk.com"/>
* {{flagu|Northern Cyprus}} – A total of 35,000 to 40,000 armed forces of the [[Republic of Turkey]] are currently in active duty [[Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command]].<ref name="indyturk.com"/>
* {{flagu|Qatar}} – A military base in [[Doha]] with 5,000 personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-opens-first-middle-east-military-base-in-qatar/3323653.html|title=Turkey Opens First Mideast Military Base in Qatar|website=VOA|date=10 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=28 April 2016|title=Seeing shared threats, Turkey sets up military base in Qatar|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qatar-turkey-military-idUSKCN0XP2IT|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news|website=Janes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=25 November 2019|title=Erdogan: Turkey-Qatar military base serves regional 'stability'|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/erdogan-turkey-qatar-military-base-serves-regional-stability-191125154550144.html|access-date=30 August 2020|publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Somalia}} – [[Camp TURKSOM]] with 2,000 personnel.<ref name="indyturk.com"/>
* {{flagu|Syria}} – Bases in [[Al-Bab]], [[Al-Rai, Syria|Al-Rai]], [[Akhtarin]], [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], [[Jindires]], [[Rajo, Syria|Rajo]] and [[Jarablus]] with at least 5,000 personnel in [[Operation Euphrates Shield|Euphrates Shield]] and [[Operation Olive Branch|Olive Branch]] regions. New bases were followed at south of [[Afrin Canton|Afrin canton]] in [[Atme]] and [[Darat Izza]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 October 2017|title=Turkey tightens siege on Afrin|language=en|work=Al-Monitor|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/10/turkey-syria-russia-tightening-siege-of-afrin.html|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> There are 114 Turkish bases in Syria as of January 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XVEJ6TXgKpo&feature=youtu.be|title = Mapping the rise of Turkey's military reach|website = [[YouTube]]| date=10 January 2022 }}</ref> After operation [[Peace Spring]], approximately 6,400 personnel are working around the Peace Spring region between [[Ras al-Ayn]] and [[Tell Abyad]]. 19 observation points are settled around [[Idlib Governorate|Idlib]] and [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo Province]].<ref>{{cite web|date=23 March 2021|title=Dissecting Syria's military bases|url=http://insamer.com/en/dissecting-syrias-military-bases_3717.html|access-date=26 March 2021|website=Insamer English|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418065835/https://insamer.com/en/dissecting-syrias-military-bases_3717.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Altogether, there are an estimated 10,500 Turkish soldiers and 250 [[tanks]] stationed in [[Syria]]. These numbers are constantly subject to modifications.<ref name="indyturk.com"/>
Turkey additionally has a presence in the following countries through UN peacekeeping missions:

* {{flagu|Central African Republic}} – 50 Turkish soldiers are stationed in the [[CAR]] as part of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission ([[MINUSCA]]).<ref name="kureselsiyaset.org" />
* {{flagu|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} – 152 units for [[MONUSCO]] mission.<ref>{{cite web |author=United Nations Peacekeeping |title=Troop and police contributors &#124; United Nations Peacekeeping |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-police-contributors |access-date=2022-02-02 |publisher=Peacekeeping.un.org}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Lebanon}} – 100 Personnel for [[UNIFIL]] mission and Maritime Task Force (MTF) participant units.<ref name="Gazetesi" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Lübnan'daki Türk askerinin görev süresi uzatıldı |url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/lubnandaki-turk-askerinin-gorev-suresi-uzatildi-521757.html |access-date=26 March 2021 |website=www.trthaber.com |date=8 October 2020 |language=tr}}</ref><ref name="Amerika'nin Sesi | Voice of America – Turkish" />
* {{flagu|Mali}} – 50 Turkish soldiers are serving in [[Mali]] as part of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission ([[MINUSMA]]).<ref name="kureselsiyaset.org" />

==Role of the military in Turkish politics==
{{See also|Deep state in Turkey}}

After the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] prohibited the political activities of officers in active service with the Military Penal Code numbered 1632 and dated 22 May 1930 (''{{ill|Askeri Ceza Kanunu|tr|s:Askeri Ceza Kanunu|vertical-align=sup}}'').<ref>[http://www.mevzuat.adalet.gov.tr/html/496.html Askeri Ceza Kanunu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515153417/http://www.mevzuat.adalet.gov.tr/html/496.html |date=15 May 2011 }}, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey, 22 May 1930.</ref><!--[[Bülent Ecevit]] said ''Asker politikaya karşımasın, demiştir kendisi de asker olup politikaya itilmiş olduğu halde... Bence Türkiye'de rejimin en demilitarize olduğu dönem Atatürk dönemidir...seçkin zümrede bir askere oynama alışkanlığı var. Onun için ben şunu söylerim. Eğer Türkiye'de rejimi demilitarize etmek istiyorsak, siviller kendi kafalarını demilitarize etmelidirler.''---> However, after the [[1960 Turkish coup d'état|1960 coup d'état]], the ''Millî Birlik Komitesi'' ([[National Unity Committee]]) established the Inner Service Act of the Turkish Armed Forces (''{{ill|Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri İç Hizmet Kanunu|tr|vertical-align=sup}}'') on 4 January 1961 to legitimize their military interventions in politics. In subsequent coups d'état and coup d'état attempts, they showed reasons to justify their political activities especially with the article 35 and 85 of this act.<ref>Fikret Bila, [http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2007/10/04/guncel/gun00.html "Çare ihtilal değil, komutanın konuşması"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019235124/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2007/10/04/guncel/gun00.html |date=19 October 2012 }}, ''[[Milliyet]]'', 4 October 2007.</ref>

The Turkish military perceived itself as the guardian of [[Kemalism]], the official state ideology, especially of its [[Secularism in Turkey|secular aspects]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Self-appointed guardians of secularism {{!}} D+C – Development + Cooperation |url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/turkeys-military-self-appointed-guardians-secularism |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.dandc.eu |date=18 September 2008 |language=en}}</ref> The TAF still maintains an important degree of influence over the decision-making process regarding issues related to Turkish national security, albeit decreased in the past decades, via the [[National Security Council (Turkey)|National Security Council]].

The military had a record of intervening in politics, removing elected governments four times in the past. Indeed, it assumed power for several periods in the latter half of the 20th century. It executed three [[coup d'état|coups d'état]]: in 1960 ([[1960 Turkish coup d'état|27 May coup]]), in 1971 ([[1971 Turkish coup d'état|12 March coup]]), and in 1980 ([[1980 Turkish coup d'état|12 September coup]]). Following the 1960 coup d'état, the military executed the first democratically elected prime minister in Turkey, [[Adnan Menderes]], in 1961.<ref name="NYTIMES" /> Most recently, it maneuvered the removal of an [[Islamism|Islamist]] prime minister, [[Necmettin Erbakan]], in 1997 (known as the [[1997 military memorandum (Turkey)|28 February memorandum]]).<ref name="factbook">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/turkey/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110073821/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/turkey|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2021|title=The World Factbook – Turkey|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> Contrary to outsider expectations, the Turkish populace was not uniformly averse to coups; many welcomed the ejection of governments they perceived as unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stormingmedia.us/31/3134/A313424.pdf|title=U.S.–Turkish Relations: The Road to Improving a Troubled Strategic Partnership|author=Lt. Col. Patrick F. Gillis|date=3 May 2004|publisher=[[U.S. Army War College]]|page=4|quote=In all of these 'coups' the majority of the Turkish public accepted the military's actions because they felt they were necessary for the well-being of the state and because the military did not seek to impose permanent military governance|access-date=15 October 2008|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171331/http://www.stormingmedia.us/31/3134/A313424.pdf|url-status=dead}}<!-- back-up: http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA424313 --></ref>

On 27 April 2007, in advance of the 4 November 2007 presidential election, and in reaction to the politics of [[Abdullah Gül]], who has a past record of involvement in [[Islamist]] political movements and banned Islamist parties such as the [[Refah Partisi|Welfare Party]], the army issued a statement of its interests. It said that the army is a party to "arguments" regarding [[secularism]]; that [[Islamism]] ran counter to the secular nature of Turkey, and to the legacy of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]. The Army's statement ended with a clear warning that the TAF stood ready to intervene if the secular nature of the Turkish Constitution is compromised, stating that "the Turkish Armed Forces maintain their sound determination to carry out their duties stemming from laws to protect the unchangeable characteristics of the Republic of Turkey. Their loyalty to this determination is absolute."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6602775.stm|access-date=30 June 2008|work=[[BBC News]]|date=28 April 2007|title=Excerpts of Turkish army statement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408101317/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6602775.stm|archive-date=8 April 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over a hundred people, including several generals, have been detained or questioned since July 2008 with respect to the so-called organisation [[Ergenekon (organization)|Ergenekon]], an alleged clandestine, [[Ultranationalism|ultra-nationalist]] organization with ties to members of the country's military and [[Law enforcement in Turkey|security]] forces. The group is accused of terrorism in Turkey. These accusing claims are reported, even while the trials are going on, mostly in the counter-secular and Islamist media organs.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

On 22 February 2010 more than 40 officers were arrested and then formally charged with attempting to overthrow the government with respect to the so-called [["Sledgehammer" plot]]. They include four admirals, a general and two colonels, some of them retired, including former commanders of the Turkish navy and air force (three days later, the former commanders of the navy and air force were released). Partially as a result, the [[Washington Post]] reported in April 2010 that the military's power had decreased.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/10/AR2010041002860.html?hpid=topnews | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Janine | last=Zacharia | title=In Turkey, military's power over secular democracy slips | date=11 April 2010 | access-date=30 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014054411/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/10/AR2010041002860.html?hpid=topnews | archive-date=14 October 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On the eve of the Supreme Military Council of August 2011, the Chief of the General Staff, along with the Army, Navy, and Air Force commanders, requested their retirement, in protest of the mass arrests which they perceived as a deliberate and planned attack against the Kemalist and secular-minded officers of the Turkish Armed Forces by the Islamists in Turkey, who began to control key positions in the Turkish government, judiciary and police.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-14346325|title=Turkey: Military chiefs resign en masse |access-date=17 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=29 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716104222/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-14346325|archive-date=16 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/world/europe/30turkey.html|title=Top Generals Quit in Group, Stunning Turks|date=30 July 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716134808/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/world/europe/30turkey.html|archive-date=16 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/30/turkey-military-chiefs-resign-sledgehammer|title=Turkey military chiefs resign over Sledgehammer 'coup plot' arrests|first=Constanze|last=Letsch|date=30 July 2011|access-date=17 July 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716093206/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/30/turkey-military-chiefs-resign-sledgehammer|archive-date=16 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The swift replacement of the force commanders in the Supreme Military Council meeting affirmed the government's control over the appointment of top-level commanders. However, promotions continue to be determined by the General Staff with limited civilian control. The [[European Commission]], in its 2011 regular yearly report on Turkey's progress towards [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|EU accession]], stated that "further reforms on the composition and powers of the Supreme Military Council, particularly on the legal basis of promotions, still need to materialise."<ref name="ec.europa.eu">{{cite web |date=12 Oct 2011 |title=Commission Staff Working Paper – Turkey 2011 Progress Report |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2011/package/tr_rapport_2011_en.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027084249/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2011/package/tr_rapport_2011_en.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011 |access-date=2023-08-03 |page=13 |language=en}}</ref> The service branch commanders continue to report to the Prime Minister instead of the Defence Minister.
 
[[File:Joe Biden in Turkish Grand National Assembly Ankara 24 August 2016.jpg|thumb|Then-[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] inspects damage to the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|Grand National Assembly]] during a visit to Ankara on 24 August 2016.]]
In July 2016, [[Gülen movement|a faction]] within the Turkish Armed Forces [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|attempted to take over the government]], but Erdogan supporters and other loyal military units stopped the coup attempt.<ref name="july16">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/07/16/turkeys-opposition-parties-take-unified-stance-against-coup-attempt|title=Turkey's opposition parties take unified stance against coup attempt|date=16 July 2016|newspaper=Daily Sabah}}</ref> The [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|parliament house]], police headquarters, and some other buildings in Ankara were damaged by [[aerial bomb]]ing and [[attack helicopter]] gunfire. In Istanbul, the [[Bosphorus Bridge|Bosporus Bridge]] was blocked, a tank fired a shell, and soldiers shot at people.<ref name="sozcu.com.tr">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-15 |title=15 Temmuz ekonomiye nasıl bir zarar verdi? |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2020/ekonomi/15-temmuz-ekonomiye-nasil-bir-zarar-verdi-5931984/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.sozcu.com.tr |language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Darbeciler Boğaz Köprüsü'nde halka top atışı yaptı | date=13 June 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOvDAqKWewE |access-date=2023-10-23 |language=en}}</ref> The incidents caused the death of hundreds and wounding of thousands of unarmed civilians. Following the failed coup attempt, thousands of military personnel were arrested and the structure of the armed forces was overhauled.<ref name="july16"/> The total toll of the damages to the economy amounted to US$14 billion.<ref name="sozcu.com.tr"/>

On August 30, 2024, which is celebrated as "Victory Day" in Turkey,<ref name="English">{{Cite web |last=English |first=Duvar |date=2024-08-09 |title=Erdoğan targets lieutenants for Atatürk chanting 8 days after incident |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/erdogan-targets-lieutenants-for-ataturk-chanting-8-days-after-incident-news-64912 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.duvarenglish.com |language=tr-TR}}</ref> a [[graduation ceremony]] was conducted for the academy's finishing class. During the ceremony, 960 graduates, led by [[valedictorian]] [[Ebru Eroğlu]], recited the military oath to defend Turkey.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Turkish president vows to 'purge' military graduates who took a pro-secular oath |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkish-president-vows-purge-military-graduates-pro-secular-113495943 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> The event was attended by Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyip Erdogan]].<ref name=":0" /> Approximately one hour following the graduation, Eroglu and 400 other graduates were recorded raising their swords and pledging allegiance to [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]], the [[Secularity|secular]] founder of modern Turkey.<ref name=":0" /> The group subsequently took an oath to uphold "a secular, democratic Turkey."<ref name=":0" /> In response, eight days later, Erdogan announced the initiation of an investigation and declared that “the few impertinent individuals responsible will be purged.”<ref name=":0" /><ref name="English"/>

==Medals and berets==
* [[Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor]]
* [[Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service]]
* [[Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice]]
* Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Bravery and Valour
* Turkish Armed Forces State Medal of Honor

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" | Colour || Wearer<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yenicaggazetesi.com.tr/askerlerin-taktigi-berelerin-rengi-ne-anlam-tasir-mavi-bordo-siyah-berelerin-muthis-773376h.htm?page=7 | title=Askerlerin taktığı berelerin rengi ne anlam taşır? Mavi, Bordo, Siyah berelerin müthiş anlamı | date=9 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/tskda-yeni-bir-donem-basladi-/1720952 | title=TSK'da yeni bir dönem başladı }}</ref>
|-
| style="background:black;"| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; || Black || Armoured Corps.
|-
| style="background:darkblue;"| || Blue || Commando Brigades.
|-
| style="background:blue;"| || Sky blue || Personnel serving in [[United Nations]] missions. 
|-
| style="background:brown;"| || Brown || Formal Dress.
|-
| style="background:darkgreen;"| || Green || [[Gendarmerie General Command]].
|-
| style="background:maroon;"| || Maroon || [[Special Forces Command (Turkey)|Special Forces Command]].
|-
| style="background:navy;"| || Navy || [[General Directorate of Security (Turkey)|General Directorate of Security]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:2509286 Female officers of the Turkish Land Forces at Camp Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016.jpg|U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Giselle Wilz, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo commander, speaks with female officers of the Turkish Land Forces during a mentoring session at Camp Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
File:Turkish patrol.jpg|U.S. and TAF soldiers conduct the third ground combined joint patrol inside the security mechanism area in northeast Syria.
File:Us-turkey joint patrol 2.jpg|Turkish MRAP [[BMC Kirpi|Kirpi]] (behind) and U.S. MRAP [[Oshkosh M-ATV]] (in front), Northern Syria.
File:Soldiers from the Turkish Army SPH Battalion conduct a live fire exercise with the AK40-GL Bombaatar during Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021.jpg|TAF soldiers in [[Romania]].
File:210923-Z-JY390-025 - ISTC Alpine Sniper Course 2021 (Image 24 of 33).jpg|A TAF Special Forces Sniper engages long range targets at night with a Remington Mk 21 Precision Sniper Rifle at the International Specialty Training Center (ISTC) Alpine Sniper Course, in Hochfilzen training area, Austria.
File:Altay Tank.jpg|[[Altay (tank)|Altay]] main battle tank.
File:T-129-1001-FAR14-3651.JPG|[[TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK|T-129]]
File:TCG İstanbul.jpg|[[TCG Istanbul (F 515)|TCG Istanbul]] ([[İstif-class frigate|''İstif''-class frigate]]).
File:Tcg-pirireis.jpg|TCG Piri Reis ([[Reis-class submarine|Reis class submarine]]).
File:Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon, Turkey - Air Force JP7156596.jpg|A Turkish F-16 taking off from İzmir Çiğli Air Base - LTBL, Turkey.
File:Turkish Air Force F4E Phantom II MOD 45157794.jpg|An F4E Phantom II aircraft with the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) takes off from Third Air Force Base Konya, Turkey, during Exercise Anatolian Eagle.
File:Turkish Military Mission With Western Mediterranean Fleet. 9 April 1943, on Board HMS Nelson, the Turkish Military Mission; Led by General Salih Omurtag and Consisting of 18 Senior Turkish Army and Air Force Of A16197.jpg|Turkish Military Mission With Western Mediterranean Fleet. 9 April 1943, on Board HMS Nelson
File:Semyon Budyonni.jpg|Turkish officers visiting Soviet Moscow.
File:230816-Z-LS332-1007.jpg|KFOR Patrol
File:Saber Junction 2019- 173rd Infantry Airborne Brigade Conducts Joint Forcible Entry Training (5762348).jpg|A paratrooper in Saber Junction 2019
File:250114-D-LS763-1019 (54267120727).jpg|Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meets with Gen. Metin Gürak, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces
File:Turkish, Latvian, British and Italian medical personnel pose for a photo at a static display of equipment during NATO Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021 (6667763).jpg|Turkish, Latvian, British and Italian medical personnel pose for a photo at a static display of equipment during NATO Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021
File:Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Exercise on Camp Bondsteel (6799628).jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Conscription in Turkey]]
* [[Military equipment of Turkey]]
* [[Gendarmerie General Command|Gendarmerie General Command (Turkey)]]
* [[Coast Guard Command (Turkey)]]
* [[Village guard system]]
* [[Defense industry of Turkey]]
* [[National Defense University (Turkey)]]
* [[List of active Turkish Air Force aircraft]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist
|refs = 
<ref name="NYTIMES">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/world/europe/30turkey.html |title=Top Generals Quit in Group, Stunning Turks |work=The New York Times|first1=Gul |last1=Tuysuz |first2=Sabrina |last2=Tavernise |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212125655/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/world/europe/30turkey.html |archive-date=12 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book| title=The Military Balance | date=2018| edition=| publisher=[[Routledge]]| location=[[London]]| isbn=978-1857439557| ref=IISS2018}} 
*{{cite book| title=The Military Balance| date= 2024 | editor1-last=Hackett |editor1-first=James | orig-date=2010| publisher=[[Routledge]]| location=London| isbn=978-1-85743-557-3| ref=IISS2010}}
*{{Cite news |url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnewsmobile.aspx?id=-502727 |access-date=12 October 2008 |title=The Coup Primer |work=[[Turkish Daily News]] |date=7 February 1997 |first=Hayri |last=Birler |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813044244/http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnewsmobile.aspx?id=-502727 |archive-date=13 August 2011}}<!-- if you can think of a better primer than this one feel free to replace it -->
*Gareth Jenkins, "Power and unaccountability in the Turkish security forces", ''Conflict, Security, and Development'', Volume 1, Issue 1.
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Landis |editor1-first=Dan |editor2-last=Albert |editor2-first=Rosita |title=Handbook of Ethnic Conflict: International Perspectives |date=2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1461404477 |page=264}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Military of Turkey}}
* [http://www.tsk.tr/HomeEng Turkish Armed Forces] (English)
* [http://turkishnavy.net/ Bosphorus Naval News] (turkishnavy.net)

{{authority control}}

{{Turkey topics}}
{{Military of Turkey}}
{{Military of Asia}}
{{Military of Europe}}
{{Military ranks by country}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}

[[Category:Military of Turkey| ]]