Erdogan Stresses Cybersecurity as Critical for National Power

(MENAFN) Recent conflicts in the Middle East, including wars in Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran, have underscored the growing importance of cybersecurity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Strong Türkiye in Communication with 5G ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, which marked the country’s transition to 5G technology, Erdoğan emphasized that digital strength is now central to national power.

“Being strong, deterrent, and respected on the global stage requires accelerating efforts in cyberspace and implementing necessary cybersecurity measures,” Erdoğan said. He noted that sovereignty is no longer defined solely by geography or physical borders, as technological and digital advancements are reshaping the traditional understanding of state power. The collection, processing, analysis, and secure management of data, he added, are essential for political stability, economic independence, and military deterrence.

Erdoğan warned that controlling physical borders alone is insufficient: “If you can control your borders but cannot protect your airspace or safeguard your cyber homeland and data, there is a serious vulnerability in your sovereignty.”

Highlighting the link between digital infrastructure and geopolitical influence, he said that managing data, combined with investments in data centers, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, is crucial. In this context, 5G technology represents both digital sovereignty and a matter of national security, Erdoğan concluded.

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