Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kalın
Today, the National Intelligence Organization turns 99. Tirelessly working day and night for the peace and security of our homeland and nation, our Organization—true to its motto, “When it comes to our homeland, the entire world becomes our frontline”—carries out its operations with the wisdom of centuries-old statecraft and the deep memory of our civilization, constantly adapting and renewing itself in response to the needs and demands of the era.
The current international order is struggling in the face of concurrent geopolitical and hybrid crises. It is failing to generate fair and sustainable responses to the developments that threaten global security, and is now at a turning point where rule-based multilateralism is deteriorating while interest-driven approaches are gaining ascendancy. As the Western-centric paradigm is being questioned, emerging quests—this time involving the Global South—are pressing against the threshold of a new paradigm.
In this historical period of rupture—where the existing system proves inadequate and no viable alternative order has yet emerged—every state is making considerable efforts to enter the new era from an advantageous position. In line with the “Century of Türkiye” vision put forth by our President, our country is stepping into this new era not merely as a regional actor, but as a global partner—one capable of intervening in distant crises, generating solutions, and upholding justice and solidarity—thanks to its multidimensional and balanced foreign policy strategy and ever-expanding intelligence capabilities. The imperative to resolve crises before they reach our borders necessitates both a broad geopolitical perspective and practiced engagement on the ground.
“Our country has historically possessed the ability to develop its own unique vision”
As a mediator in international tensions, a solution partner in global challenges, and the rising voice of conscience in humanitarian crises, our country has historically possessed the ability to develop its own unique vision. The experiences of our ancestors provide us today with a unique perspective, having left behind a valuable legacy in reading the flow of history, managing balances, exercising foresight, and developing long-term strategies.
Our history—from Dede Tuğrul to Nizam al-Mulk, from Saladin to Malik-Shah, from Mehmed the Conqueror to Suleiman the Magnificent, from Abdulhamid II to Atatürk, to the Republic and the present day—represents not a static past but a dynamic legacy that generates strategic value.The key characteristic that places Türkiye in an exceptional position in this age of uncertainty and fragility is its inheritance of an unbroken and pluralistic civilizational basin.
The great Turkish philosopher al-Farabi (870–950), in his concept of the “Virtuous City,” describes a social and political order in which a way of life grounded in reason, virtue, and justice is held as an ideal to be attained by both individuals and societies. A virtuous society, built by rational, free, and confident individuals, is based on the establishment of balance—between the heavens and the earth, physics and metaphysics, time and space, the individual and society, freedom and security, wealth and fair distribution. The inhabitants of the Virtuous City, a welcoming and pluralistic “middle community” far removed from extremes, demand trust, stability, and justice not only for themselves but for the entire world, and they strive for the realization of global justice and a virtuous way of life.
We are collectively striving to carry forward this legacy—embodied in the vision of the “Türkiye Axis”—across the ancient lands of our region.
In this sacred endeavor, as it prepares to mark its centenary, the National Intelligence Organization continues its work relentlessly—transcending the limits of time and space under the motto “For the Homeland, Anytime, Anywhere.” It integrates its capabilities across different disciplines—such as human intelligence, technical intelligence, and open-source intelligence—with artificial intelligence technologies, aiming to leave behind a safer and stronger Türkiye for future generations.
In its simplest form, intelligence can be defined as “accurate and valuable information.” Its purpose is to identify both distant and immediate, visible and invisible risks—and to neutralize them before they evolve into actual threats. Within this framework, the foundation of our intelligence paradigm is not only the operational work carried out in the field but also a preventive intelligence approach—one that involves risk analysis, medium- and long-term forecasting, and the identification and neutralization of threats.
We operate with an intelligence vision that does not settle for quantitative analysis of collected data, but also emphasizes its qualitative assessment—prioritizing strategic evaluation over purely tactical or operational dimensions. In doing so, we transform big data into strategic intelligence, contributing to accurate and long-term policy-making. This proactive approach serves as the silent and powerful shield of the national will—anticipating future threats today and disrupting behind-the-scenes schemes through the power of intelligence.
Successful Operations Carried Out in 2025 as Well
Security guided by intelligence is a unified whole. While it can be divided into tactical and operational components, its strategic integrity is indivisible. The interwoven domains of military, physical, and human security form the foundation of both the material and moral safety of society. Our core principle is this: none of us are safe unless all of us are safe. Those who disregard the security of others cannot ensure their own. Multidimensional and emerging threats can only be neutralized through a comprehensive approach to security, rather than through isolated or tactical measures.
Operating within this paradigm, our Organization successfully carried out numerous operations in 2025 across a wide geographical scope—neutralizing threats before they materialized, thwarting espionage attempts, and countering cyberattacks—all in the effort to safeguard the material and moral values of our citizens.
We continue to actively combat terrorist organizations and organized crime structures that pose a threat to our country. We follow a methodology that can interpret terrorist threats through both global and regional lenses, and integrates all our intelligence and operational capabilities in synergy. As a result, our Agency, in coordination with other national security institutions in the field, blocks the activities of terrorist groups and organized crime networks with diverse ideologies and foreign support.
Our Organization is also developing new capabilities and capacities in close cooperation with relevant security units to counter next-generation crime networks and mafia-like structures. We are intensifying our efforts—using scientific methods and early warning systems—to prevent corruptive and criminal activities that specifically target our youth.
Our country, which categorically rejects all forms of terrorism, continued its efforts in 2025 to eliminate the threat of terrorism. The comprehensive and multi-dimensional struggle we wage against terrorist organizations such as ISIS, al-Qaeda, the PKK, FETÖ, and DHKP/C plays a vital role in ensuring that every corner of our homeland is safe, secure, peaceful, and prosperous. Regardless of their source, origin, form, or justification, our fight against the physical acts, financial resources, and propaganda activities of terrorist organizations will continue with determination and resolve.
At this point, one of the most critical components of the steps our state has taken to strengthen its internal front and establish its own geopolitical axis is the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye.This goal constitutes a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, multi-stage, original, and innovative transformation project—ranging from the dissolution and disarmament of the PKK to political reforms and the establishment of social peace.The perspective of national solidarity, fraternity, and democracy—expressed in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye with the support of political parties and large segments of society—makes a historically significant contribution to this process.
While reinforcing our internal front, this process simultaneously lays the groundwork for a new regional geopolitics.Steps that transform our ancient civilizational heritage into strategic value will also prevent interventions contrary to the spirit of our history and geography.A new era—free from terrorism, built on the foundations of fraternal law and social cohesion—will be one of the greatest achievements of the Türkiye Century, constructed with strategic wisdom.
Espionage Attempts Against Türkiye Prevented
Another key pillar of our security umbrella is the prevention of espionage attempts against our country. It is no surprise that a strong and influential country like Türkiye is a target of espionage activities. In light of the rapid evolution of espionage methods—beyond traditional techniques, now including online operations, front organizations, exploitation of organized crime groups, and the use of private investigators—we operate with heightened awareness and steadily increasing capacity in the field of counterintelligence. Indeed, over the past year, we have exposed operations and agent networks targeting our country, thereby thwarting espionage efforts. Our work in this area will continue resolutely and without compromise.
The National Intelligence Organization does not limit homeland defense to the physical domain alone. Through advances in technical intelligence and cybersecurity, it plays a pivotal role in protecting our cyber homeland, strengthening the national cyber defense architecture day by day. The latest technological developments are closely monitored, and through our Organization, our country’s competency in this field is being elevated to the highest level. In this context, operations carried out against cyberattacks and attempts to destabilize our country through social media and financial instruments are concrete outcomes of these efforts.
We are contributing to the enhancement of our Organization’s and our state’s analytical capabilities in the face of new challenges and hybrid threats. We implement multi-layered and interdisciplinary methods to analyze, interpret, and transform big data into actionable information. We will continue to mobilize all our resources to ensure that our Organization—with its strong intelligence foundation, deep field knowledge, and advanced analytical capabilities—can serve our state and nation with complete effectiveness.
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In addition to comprehensive intelligence activities that prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens within the country, the National Intelligence Organization also establishes reliable communication channels between parties beyond our borders—particularly in regions of tension and conflict—preventing the escalation of various disputes and the transformation of threats into crises through effective mediation efforts. The intelligence diplomacy conducted by our Organization—with its quiet, calm, and profound character—makes significant contributions to regional and global peace.
From the Gaza ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine War, and from Somalia to the easing of tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan line, we closely monitor processes across various geographies, each with its own complex and distinct dynamics, and contribute to regional peace and stability. Our goal is to establish a belt of security and stability at both the regional and international levels, built on mutual trust and respect.
Our approach—intervening from the earliest stages of crises or tensions likely to escalate, understanding the sensitivities of the parties objectively, and developing solutions—is grounded in the moral values based on our state’s “law of neighborliness” and the understanding that “security and stability are collective phenomena.” In this context, intelligence diplomacy moves beyond mere reliance on power or operational discourse, focusing instead on understanding all parties involved and reminding them of a shared reason, culture, and history—in other words, their “civilizational memory.”
Syria
In the case of Syria—critical to the strategic balance of the Middle East—developments in the region from the beginning of the civil war to its current resolution phase have been assessed through a holistic lens, encompassing not only humanitarian, political, and security dimensions, but also broader strategic considerations. The historic window of opportunity opened on December 8, 2024, marked an irreversible turning point and the beginning of a promising transformation toward a stable future in which Syria is governed solely by Syrians.
A free, sovereign, united, secure, democratic, and prosperous Syria will not only establish peace within its borders but will also contribute to regional stability and peace. All internal and external attempts to divide Syria, weaken its political unity, or violate and undermine its sovereign rights are doomed to fail.
Our country and our Organization, which have made significant contributions to the international community’s efforts to integrate Syria into the global system as a key actor, will continue to support the establishment and preservation of stability in Syria with strategic patience and wisdom, for the sake of regional peace.
Africa
Africa—another region where strategic competition has intensified—remains among the top priorities of our country. Our approach to the continent is shaped by the vision of “African solutions to Africa’s problems.” As the National Intelligence Organization, our stabilizing and balancing stance in Libya, our contributions to the fight against terrorism in Somalia, and our activities across the continent, including in Sudan, have drawn the attention of many countries. From Chad to Niger, from Togo to Burkina Faso, and from Tanzania to Kenya, the positive outcomes of intelligence diplomacy are visible throughout Africa.
In addition to the cooperation developed with our brotherly Turkic states, with whom we share deep historical and cultural ties, a key role is also being played in ensuring stability in the Balkans. Intelligence coordination efforts with these countries are being accelerated. With a proactive diplomatic approach and strategic intelligence capabilities, our efforts to establish peace and stability across these regions will continue.
Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our Organization takes pride in serving our country and our nation in full harmony and coordination with all relevant institutions and organizations, with the wisdom of the state at its core.
With the goal of achieving a safer, brighter, and more prosperous future for our country, our region, and the world, the National Intelligence Organization will resolutely and meticulously continue its work for the survival of our state and the peace and well-being of our nation—drawing strength from its institutional identity nearing a century, its centuries-old state tradition, and its profound civilizational memory.
On this occasion, we salute the unnamed heroes of our Organization—those who embody the highest moral values, who never hesitate to sacrifice their lives for their country, who are devoted and loyal—and we pray for God’s mercy upon our martyrs. As the National Intelligence Organization, we are fully confident that, with the awareness and honor of serving the Republic of Türkiye and our beloved nation, we will overcome all challenges that lie ahead.
* Ambassador Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kalın, Director of the National Intelligence Organization
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/milli-istihbarat-teskilati-99-yasinda/3790891#
