For 70 Years, Türkiye Was Struck by NATO Coups—Now, on the 10th Anniversary of the July 15 Coup Attempt, It Has Reached the Point of Becoming NATO's Leading Power

History is not only a chronicle of victories but also a textbook of betrayals. Türkiye's accession to NATO in 1952 was marketed on paper as an "alliance," yet in reality it amounted to an institutional surrender of Ankara to the hegemony of Washington and Europe. From that moment on, the Turkish military and political establishment were placed under tutelage under the guise of being "allies." The schemes of the deep state were woven into the fabric of our country through scripts written abroad.

The chain of military coups that began with the coup of May 27, 1960, was the direct outcome of that surrender. They reshaped the political system and the armed forces, binding Türkiye to the United States and Europe. To ensure the country would never fully regain its footing, they struck it with another blow every decade.

NATO Never Protected Türkiye—It Always Treated It as an Enemy

From the coup of May 27 to the September 12 military takeover, from the February 28 postmodern coup to the April 27 e-memorandum; from the left-right clashes of the 1970s to the ignition of PKK terrorism; from provocations designed to inflame sectarian tensions between Alevis and Sunnis to the July 15, 2016 coup attempt—every coup, every act of chaos, every bloody scenario was orchestrated from the same center: the United States and NATO.

Plans to encircle Türkiye through Iraq and Syria were put into motion. They unleashed the PKK, FETÖ, and every proxy force they could mobilize against us. Yet they overlooked one crucial fact: the Ancient Turkish State Wisdom still lives on in these lands.

That enduring state wisdom resisted with patience, prudence, strategy, and faith. Within every hostile game, it devised a strategy of its own. It circumvented every trap and ultimately turned the enemy's own weapons against them.

On the night of July 15, while F-16 fighter jets operated by collaborators and traitors bombed our Grand National Assembly, the Turkish people poured into the streets. The extraordinary determination of those who stood before tanks and shielded themselves against bullets did not merely prevent an occupation—it also shattered a century-old system of tutelage. That bloody coup attempt, carried out by FETÖ elements operating within the NATO sphere, was defeated by the unwavering resolve of our nation.

Türkiye Has Broken Through the Walls of Encirclement

Today, on the tenth anniversary of July 15, we proudly declare that those walls of encirclement have been dismantled one by one. Syria is now being reshaped under Türkiye's influence and strategic guidance. In the post-Assad era, the new Syria is moving toward stability through Ankara's strategic initiatives; terrorist corridors are being dismantled, while the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish diplomacy are leaving their unmistakable mark.

The evolving balance in Iraq, the energy corridors of the Caucasus, defense agreements across Africa, and the revival of historic ties in the Balkans are all components of the same grand vision. Türkiye has ceased to be a pawn in games designed by others and has become the architect of its own geopolitical strategy.

Türkiye Has Thwarted Every Hostile Plan

Consider this: the country that entered NATO in 1952 under the pretense of receiving a strategic favor has now become a power capable of shaping the Alliance's future—one approaching the position of its leading force.

Today, the United States and Europe increasingly find themselves needing Türkiye's voice amid their own internal crises, energy struggles, migration waves, and defense vulnerabilities. New strategic balances in Asia, development partnerships in Africa, and peace-building efforts in the Caucasus all bear the imprint of that enduring state wisdom, patiently cultivated over decades.

Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sustained by the will of the nation and sanctified by the blood of its martyrs, this path embodies what has come to be known as the "Century of Türkiye."

Those Who Appeared as Allies Have Fallen Silent

The West still struggles to abandon its old habits. Yet it no longer has the luxury of alternatives. Those who played a role in attempts to occupy and destabilize Türkiye have now fallen silent. They no longer possess even the confidence to lecture others about "democracy."

During those dark nights, the Turkish nation came to understand with unmistakable clarity who its true friends were—and who merely wore the mask of friendship.

July 15 was not merely an attempted coup or an attempted occupation. It also became the greatest act of resistance by the Turkish state and nation against what many perceive as NATO's long-standing system of tutelage.

As Western Civilization Declines, a New Era Begins

A new era has now begun. The order taking shape in Syria is not merely about restoring stability to a neighboring country; it is also a manifesto of Türkiye's regional leadership. Through the unique methods of the Ancient Turkish State Wisdom, the backbone of the PKK/YPG terrorist organizations has been broken, the refugee issue is being managed in a controlled manner, and new economic corridors are being established. The unparalleled coordination among Türkiye's military, diplomatic, and intelligence institutions continues to astonish its adversaries.

The Magnificent Resurgence of the Ancient State

This is precisely where the Ancient Turkish State Wisdom reveals itself: wait patiently, prepare strategically, and strike when the time is right.

Europe's energy crisis, America's concerns over preserving its global hegemony, and the Russia–Ukraine conflict have all made Türkiye even more indispensable. Ankara is dependent neither on the West nor on the East. It stands as an independent, honorable, and powerful nation.

The country that was once told NATO would "protect" it has now broken those chains of hegemony through its own determination and capabilities. Today, Türkiye is no longer merely a member of the Alliance—it is a nation with a decisive voice, one that increasingly shapes its direction.

The Spirit of July 15

We remember with mercy our martyrs of July 15 and honor our veterans with profound gratitude. Their sacrifice was not in vain.

From the light that emerged out of that dark night, the breeze of our flag can now be felt from Asia to Africa, from the Balkans to the Caucasus. Türkiye is no longer simply shaping its own future—it is also helping redefine the regional and global balance of power.

The Arrogant West Is Astonished

The former masters of NATO are gradually beginning to understand one undeniable truth:

This nation does not bow to tutelage.

This state has always possessed the ability to create its own strategy within the games devised by others.

And when the moment comes, it delivers moves that leave its opponents utterly bewildered.

The Commander of the Islamic Armies, Now at the Center of the Crusader Alliance

When the Ottoman Empire—the seat of the Islamic Caliphate for centuries—was dismantled a century ago, our adversaries believed they had settled every score.

In 1952, they brought Türkiye into NATO, which, in essence, they viewed as a modern Crusader army.

Thus, the Turkish state, which had once served as the commander of the Islamic armies during the Ottoman era, was transformed into a member of what the author describes as the Crusader alliance.

Today, however, Türkiye has become one of the leading powers in the emerging military partnership among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and other nations expected to join in the future. At the same time, it has also evolved into one of the central powers within NATO itself.

Such a development would be unprecedented in history.

What Is Ankara Trying to Say?

Through the messages delivered at the 36th NATO Summit, held in Ankara on 7–8 July 2026, Türkiye demonstrated that the Turkish State has returned to the world stage, carrying once again the spirit of the Ottoman Empire, which shaped world history for more than six centuries.

Do not be misled by the NATO emblem displayed behind the leaders during the official photographs.

Look beyond the backdrop.

Only then will you understand the true picture.

One should never forget that our Western friends and allies carried out all of their so-called "acts of goodwill" behind that very logo.

Yet today, the leaders of the Western world come to Ankara, seeking reconciliation and, in a sense, acknowledging Türkiye's growing authority.

They are welcomed with the legendary Mehter March of the Ottoman Empire—so that they fully understand where they have arrived.

The achievements in politics, national security, economic development, and defense technologies are nothing short of remarkable.

If anyone remains unhappy with the point Türkiye has reached—without firing a single shot—it is only fair to question the depth of that person's sense of belonging to this land, this state, and this nation.

The World's New Orbit

The world continues to spin rapidly on its axis, yet at the same time it is settling into an entirely new political and strategic orbit.

Following this NATO Summit, that transformation may accelerate even further.

May Allah guide our path, bless our destiny, and make our endeavors successful.

Alper Tan

7 July 2026