The 104th Anniversary of Turkish Victory Day Celebrated in Brussels

On the occasion of Victory Day (30 August 1922) and Turkish Armed Forces Day, the Embassy of Türkiye in Brussels hosted a reception at the premises of the TOBB representation.

The event brought together Türkiye’s three ambassadors in the Belgian capital: Görkem Barış Tantekin, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Kingdom of Belgium; Basat Öztürk, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Türkiye to NATO; and Yaprak Balkan, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Türkiye to the European Union.

The ceremony gathered numerous Turkish diplomatic and military representatives as well as many foreign guests, predominantly colonels. Among those present were representatives from China, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and other countries.

The ceremony opened with a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in a maritime accident on 30 August 2026 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and of all soldiers who died for their country. The Turkish and Belgian national anthems were then performed.

In his address, Ambassador Barış Tantekin recalled the historic significance of the 30 August victory led by Marshal and Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He described the event as the embodiment of the struggle for independence, sovereignty and dignity, and a continuing source of inspiration. He also linked it to the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt) of 26 August 1071, which marked the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia — two milestones that are frequently associated in the national narrative.

The Ambassador underlined Türkiye’s role in regional and international security, highlighting its strategic geographical position and its relations with multiple regions of the world. In a period marked by the erosion of multilateralism, a discourse centred on security and defence appeared both natural and pertinent. He further reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to further developing its relations with Belgium.

Colonel Ramazan Türkmen, for his part, emphasised that the victory of 30 August had played a decisive role in the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye. He also highlighted the strength and importance of the Turkish Armed Forces and the progress achieved by Türkiye in the fields of defence and security. It is worth noting that Türkiye fields the second-largest army within NATO — the world’s foremost military alliance — in terms of manpower, after the United States.

The ceremony concluded with the screening of a video dedicated to 30 August. Guests were then able to continue their exchanges in a more informal setting.