As 2025 begins, Turkey has launched its most assertive naval demonstration yet – the “Mavi Vatan” or “Blue Homeland” exercise, running from January 7 to 16. This massive military display, spanning three strategic seas – the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea – showcases Ankara’s growing maritime power and regional ambitions.
On January 9, the exercise will feature a “Distinguished Guest Day,” where senior Turkish officials are expected to observe drills near Aksaz, home to a key naval base. This base is poised to play a pivotal role in Turkey’s maritime ambitions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The scale of the exercise reflects Turkey’s expanding naval capabilities. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the exercise will involve 87 surface vessels, 7 submarines, 7 unmanned naval vehicles, 31 aircraft, 17 helicopters, and 28 unmanned aerial vehicles.
More than 20,000 personnel, including specialized underwater attack and defense teams, are participating in these comprehensive drills.
Aksaz Naval Base: The Strategic Hub
Nestled on the southeastern coast of the Aegean Sea near Marmaris, Muğla, Aksaz Naval Base (Aksaz Deniz Üssü in Turkish) is a cornerstone of Turkey’s maritime power. Spanning an impressive 8,000 acres, this expansive base is more than just a military installation—it’s a self-contained community, complete with apartment-style barracks and modern social facilities.
The idea for Aksaz took root in the late 1960s when Turkey sought to bolster its naval presence in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. After extensive planning, Karaağaç Bay, 13 kilometers east of Marmaris, was chosen as the ideal site thanks to its strategic location and natural advantages.
Today, Aksaz serves as a hub for the Turkish Navy’s Southern Sea Area Command and is home to elite units like Su Altı Savunma (SAS) for underwater defense and Su Altı Taaruz (SAT) for underwater offense. With its critical role in regional operations, Aksaz Naval Base symbolizes Turkey’s maritime ambitions.
The Aksaz Shipyard Command
The base’s strategic significance expanded dramatically in August 2024 when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the Aksaz Shipyard Command.
The event’s highlight was the commissioning of the Piri Reis submarine, the first under Turkey’s ambitious Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Submarine Project, and the unveiling of the world’s largest 3,000-ton submarine dock.
The Piri Reis submarine, now in active service, represents a leap forward in Turkey’s naval capabilities, blending advanced stealth and endurance. The colossal dock is designed to handle maintenance, overhauls, and emergency repairs for submarines in the Navy’s inventory. Its versatility includes docking pontoons and relocating as operational needs demand.
Equipped with four diesel generators, the dock can sustain maintenance and repair operations anywhere at sea, accommodating 28 dock personnel and 14 submarine crew members for up to five days without resupply.
“We understand the importance of a strong and effective navy,” Erdogan emphasized during his address. “By 2029, we will strengthen our fleet by commissioning all submarines under this ambitious project,” he added.
First NATO Member To Join The BRICS Block?
Turkey’s naval expansion occurs against a backdrop of complex international dynamics. While maintaining its NATO commitments, Turkey is charting an independent course.
In October 2024, Turkey conducted a military exercise with the US in the Eastern Mediterranean, though the Turkish defense ministry did not officially announce the event.
Turkish media only reported on it after US amphibious assault ship USS Wasp shared details on social media. Opposition leader Yanki Bagcioglu criticized the lack of an official announcement, arguing that it exposed an inconsistency in Turkey’s rhetoric and actions regarding its relationship with the US.
On December 3, the Royal Canadian Navy handed over command of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Turkish allies during a ceremony at Aksaz Naval Base.
The transfer concluded a five-month deployment (July 1–December 3) marked by challenges, including the Ukraine war and rising Middle East tensions. During this period, SNMG2 operated in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean, enhancing deterrence, cohesion, and collective defense for NATO.
It conducted surveillance of Russian activities and strengthened maritime situational awareness, collaborating with naval units from 11 nations, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Japan.
Following the change of command, SNMG2 is now expected to demonstrate NATO’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea under Turkish leadership.
However, Turkey’s strategic positioning extends beyond its NATO role. Turkey is positioning itself to become the first NATO member to join the BRICS block (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which aims to counterbalance Western influence. Driven by economic interests and Ankara’s pursuit of “strategic autonomy,” this move would mark a significant shift.
In October 2024, President Erdogan’s attendance at the BRICS summit, at Vladimir Putin’s invitation following his formal request to join the block, signals Turkey’s interest in diversifying its international partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.
Impact On Regional Alliances
Meanwhile, the tension between Turkey’s expanding naval presence and regional stability has raised concerns among neighboring states. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has expressed alarm, warning of a “real war threat” from Turkey. These concerns stem from Turkey’s massive naval buildup and its establishment of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that challenges existing maritime boundaries.
Turkey’s military expansion is supported by its growing defense industry capabilities. As one of the few Middle Eastern nations with domestic military shipbuilding capacity, Turkey has made significant strides in defense technology, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production and exports. This industrial base enables Turkey’s strategic autonomy and supports its regional ambitions.
The country’s naval strategy appears designed to reshape the Eastern Mediterranean’s power balance, potentially disrupting alliances between Greece, Israel, Cyprus, and Egypt. Turkey’s reorganization of naval assets in Turkish-occupied Cyprus and its ambitious naval modernization program, including plans to commission additional submarines by 2029, further underscore its determination to establish maritime dominance.
President Erdogan’s vision of a “strong and effective navy” reflects Turkey’s broader ambition to become a dominant regional power. This strategic shift, exemplified by the Blue Homeland exercise and the expansion of facilities like the Aksaz Naval Base, marks a significant evolution in Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics.
Turkey’s expanding naval capabilities and pursuit of strategic autonomy signal a significant shift in regional power dynamics, impacting both NATO allies and potential BRICS partners. These advancements position Turkey to strengthen its influence and assert dominance in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
