A cabinet meeting was held on July 17, 2025, at the Presidential Complex under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Following the meeting, Erdoğan addressed the nation at the Presidential Complex and announced decisions taken across various fields.
In post-cabinet statements, the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process, public sector hiring, energy projects, social rights, investment incentives, and regional foreign policy issues were addressed. President Erdoğan began his speech with a quote inspired by Kutadgu Bilig, highlighting the distinction between good and evil in the face of social challenges.
On the same day, various ministries issued announcements regarding new regulations parallel to the cabinet meeting. In this context, regulations expanding social rights were published, incentives for investment and employment were disclosed, and Türkiye’s new positions on diplomatic and security policies within the framework of regional developments were shared with the public.
Main Agenda Items and Strategic Statements
The “Terror-Free Türkiye” Process and Regional Security Policy
In his statement following the cabinet meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized that the goal of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” is a fundamental principle of Türkiye’s security strategy. Erdoğan stated that a multidimensional campaign has been waged to free the country from the terrorist threat it has faced for nearly fifty years. It was affirmed that all necessary measures, including the use of force when required, have been deployed in the fight against terrorism.
The process was underscored as directly linked to Türkiye’s objectives of unity, vitality, and stability; Erdoğan stated that actions are guided not by political calculations but by the peace and prosperity of future generations. Furthermore, it was noted that strengthening social solidarity and national unity within the context of the Türkiye Century vision is closely connected to this security perspective.
Struggle Against FETÖ and Current Data
President Erdoğan stated that the struggle against FETÖ continues and that the organization’s infiltration into state institutions was fueled by coup attempts and anti-democratic interventions. According to Erdoğan, FETÖ successfully embedded itself within the state structure particularly after the 1980 military coup and the February 28 process. During this period, traditional religious structures were restricted while the organization’s operational space expanded.
According to post-cabinet statements, a total of 155,000 individuals have had their ties severed from the public sector under FETÖ-related investigations. Of these, 30 percent are from the Ministry of Interior, 24 percent from the Ministry of National Defense, and 18 percent from the Ministry of National Education. Of those dismissed, 28,000 have since been reinstated. Additionally, verdicts have been delivered in all 289 coup-related cases, resulting in 1,634 individuals receiving aggravated life sentences, 1,366 receiving life sentences, and 1,891 receiving fixed-term imprisonment.
President Erdoğan noted that approximately 11,000 FETÖ members remain in prisons and that the organization continues operations in finance, trade, personnel recruitment, bureaucracy, and “private institutionalization.” He described FETÖ as a Trojan horse and stated that the July 15, 2016 coup attempt marked the moment this structure began to collapse.
Israel-Syria Tensions and Türkiye’s Stance
In his remarks on Israel’s recent attacks, President Erdoğan characterized Israel as an actor that disregards law and principle. He stated that the attacks initiated in Gaza have spread to Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, and most recently Syria, and that Israel’s latest moves against Syria, particularly under the pretext of targeting Druze communities, have deepened the regional crisis.
Erdoğan affirmed that Türkiye’s fundamental foreign policy principle is to preserve the territorial integrity, national unity, and unitary structure of its neighbor Syria. He emphasized that Türkiye has never accepted and will never accept any fragmentation of Syria. Particular emphasis was placed on Türkiye’s open opposition to efforts to establish a corridor between southern and northern Syria.
Erdoğan stated that he had held a telephone conversation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara and reiterated Türkiye’s continued efforts to halt the bloodshed in the region. He affirmed that Türkiye, as in the past, will stand alongside the Syrian people and continue contributing to all initiatives that support peace.
Social Policies and Legal Reforms
Regulation on Part-Time Work Rights
Following the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan announced a new regulation published in the Official Gazette, granting all civil servants the right to part-time work from the birth of their child until the child enters primary school. This regulation applies to all civil servants without distinction between men and women.
Under the regulation, female civil servants who have given birth may apply for this right after maternity or unpaid leave, and male civil servants whose spouses have given birth may apply after paternity leave. Similarly, civil servants who have adopted children are also included under this regulation. These individuals may work part-time from the actual date of adoption or the end of relevant legal leave until the child reaches primary school age.
According to the regulation, the weekly working hours will be set at half the normal schedule. Part-time employees may not work more than three days per week, and daily working hours must not be less than three hours or exceed eight hours. During this period, employees will receive half of their salary and additional payments.
Economy and Investment Policies
First Call of the Local Development Initiative Incentive Program
One of the economic measures announced at the cabinet meeting was the launch of the first call under the Local Development Initiative Incentive Program. President Erdoğan announced that the program covers a total of 324 investment areas designated across Türkiye’s 81 provinces. Financial support of up to 240 million Turkish liras will be provided for each investment.
Under the program, four investment areas have been identified for each province. Investors may benefit from these incentives through the mechanism administered by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. The first application period will begin on August 1, 2025, and end on September 30, 2025. Applications will be accepted via the website “https://yerelkalkinmahamlesi.sanayi.gov.tr”.
The program’s objectives include activating the economic potential of cities, opening avenues for new investments in sectors such as industry, agriculture, tourism, and technology, and enhancing regional competitiveness. The program’s public announcement was made on the same day by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır via social media.
Expansion of the Energy Fleet and Deepwater Drilling Investments
President Erdoğan also made statements regarding new energy investments. It was announced that Türkiye’s number of deepwater drilling vessels will increase from four to six. It was emphasized that the two new vessels joining the fleet are equipped with high technology and that the energy fleet will be strengthened not only quantitatively but also qualitatively.
According to a statement by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar on social media, with these new additions, Türkiye’s energy fleet will rank among the world’s first four most modern energy fleets. The drilling vessels will be deployed for exploration and production activities in the Black Sea and open seas. The fleet also includes two seismic survey vessels.
President Erdoğan announced that daily production at the Sakarya Gas Field has reached 9.5 million cubic meters and that this gas is currently reaching four million households. He also stated that Türkiye’s total domestic and foreign oil production has reached 170,000 barrels per day. These investments, he affirmed, will continue to advance Türkiye’s goal of achieving “Complete Energy Independence.”
Recruitment of 20,000 Personnel for the Justice System
Following the cabinet meeting, it was announced that 20,000 new personnel will be hired as part of a step to restructure justice services. President Erdoğan stated that appointments will be made for positions such as court clerks, correctional officers, support staff, and other roles.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, in a social media post, stated that the recruitment will be carried out gradually with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of the justice system. The statement also noted President Erdoğan’s support for the justice system as expressed in his post-cabinet remarks.
This recruitment plan by the Ministry of Justice is linked to the vision of establishing a “rule-of-law-based, timely, and predictable justice system.”
Current Domestic and International Engagement
Diplomatic Meetings and Summit Participation in July
In his post-cabinet remarks, President Erdoğan provided information on diplomatic engagements and programs conducted in July. He recalled the 172nd Expanded Provincial Chairpersons Meeting of the Justice and Development Party held on July 1, 2025, and noted that the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, visited the party’s headquarters on the same day.
On July 2, meetings were held with women’s organization members through the AK Party Women’s Leadership Academy, and a productive discussion was conducted with a delegation led by the Speaker of Iraq’s Council of Representatives, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. On July 4, Türkiye participated in the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. Erdoğan highlighted the significance of the summit being held in Karabakh, which regained its freedom after 30 years of occupation, and thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for hosting. It was reported that President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also attended the summit.
Visit of the UAE Head of State and Signed Agreements
On the day before the cabinet meeting, on July 16, 2025, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, visited Türkiye. During the visit, a private meeting was held between President Erdoğan and Sheikh Mohamed, followed by inter-delegation talks, and the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between the two countries was convened.
At the conclusion of the visit, seven bilateral agreements were signed. Both parties expressed their goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to 20 billion dollars this year and to 40 billion dollars in the medium term. Erdoğan stated in his remarks that these engagements further strengthen Türkiye’s relations with Gulf countries.
Telephone Conversation with Syrian President al-Shara
In his post-meeting statement, President Erdoğan announced that he had held a telephone conversation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara on the same day. The conversation focused on steps to halt the bloodshed in Syria and on current developments on the ground. Erdoğan stated that relevant ministries and security units are in direct contact with their Syrian counterparts.
According to the statement, an attempted ceasefire facilitated by Türkiye was targeted for sabotage by armed militants acting under Israel’s direction. Erdoğan reaffirmed that Türkiye, as in the past, will stand with the Syrian people and continue defending Syria’s multicultural structure and territorial integrity.
Assessments on Current Debates
Secondary School Transition Exam (LGS) and Imam Hatip School Controversies
President Erdoğan responded to public debates surrounding the results of the Secondary School Transition Exam (LGS). He stated that some circles have made misleading claims based on the number of successful students and that the issue has rapidly been turned into criticism of Imam Hatip schools. Erdoğan criticized the targeting of a congratulatory banner hung at an Imam Hatip middle school in Bursa.
Erdoğan warned against the exploitation of the emotions of 13–14-year-old students for political purposes, despite the ministry’s transparent dissemination of all relevant information regarding the exam. He affirmed that Türkiye is an international model in terms of exam security, emphasizing that millions of students take these exams annually without incident and that the process is conducted with meticulous care.
He stressed the need to preserve public trust in political institutions and condemned the use of children for political ends as a violation of moral and ethical boundaries. In this context, he extended his congratulations to all students who took the LGS exam and affirmed that young people are Türkiye’s hope and the architects of its future.
Debates on the Concepts of Republic and Ummah
President Erdoğan addressed criticisms of “ummah-ism” that have recently sparked public debate. He noted that remarks made during the 32nd Consultation and Evaluation Meeting in Kızılcahamam, particularly those concerning Turkish, Kurdish, and Arab solidarity, have been targeted by certain circles and caused discomfort.
Erdoğan stated that these criticisms stem from a lack of understanding and that the concepts of nation and ummah are not mutually exclusive; rather, the universal brotherhood of Muslims and the unity of the Turkish nation can be defended together. He asserted that those raising these criticisms are disconnected from the public’s religious worldview and historical codes.
Commemorations of July 15
Erdoğan expressed his rejection of certain groups that have characterized the July 15 events as “theater” or “staged combat,” and stated that such individuals will always be remembered with regret. He emphasized that the suppression of the coup attempt not only defeated the national will but also exposed the failure of FETÖ’s “Trojan horse” strategy. He noted that previous interventions such as the 1980 military coup and the February 28 process created the conditions for FETÖ’s institutionalization in public life and that these structures were expanded with direct support from external powers.
Erdoğan also highlighted that past policies such as the headscarf ban, the coefficient system, and the closure of Imam Hatip schools were deliberately designed to create space for FETÖ. He affirmed that the struggle against FETÖ continues and that the organization’s complete eradication is the goal, with careful distinction drawn between the guilty and the innocent.
