RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia, Talip Küçükcan, reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to preserving democratic values while responding to an increasingly complex security environment. He made the remarks during a panel discussion commemorating the 10th anniversary of the failed 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, held in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Responding to a question on how Türkiye balances national security with freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and social media regulation, Ambassador Küçükcan underscored that democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms remain the cornerstones of the country's national resilience. He said Türkiye continues to play a stabilizing role through its democratic institutions, political stability, and strategic capabilities.

"Türkiye has been facing several security challenges within the region. Two weeks ago, Türkiye hosted the NATO Summit, and it emphasized the importance of Turkey as a stabilizing force in the region with its democracy, military, economy, and political stability," hesaid.

"When we talk about freedoms, checks and balances, as well as navigating this uncharted territory, I think Turkey has been doing quite well," he continued.

Küçükcan acknowledged that criticism exists, particularly regarding measures against misinformation and disinformation, but stressed that such debates are common in democracies confronting new security threats. The ambassador rejected claims that efforts to combat disinformation undermine freedom of expression, arguing that Türkiye maintains a robust and transparent media environment.

"We have got a very strong media environment in Turkey, both private and public. Today, information flows around the world so rapidly that nothing can remain secret any longer. What we do is quite transparent, and every five years we go to the public through elections. That also shows that Turkish democracy has been becoming stronger and stronger," the ambassador stated.

According to him, democratic legitimacy is "continuously reinforced" through regular elections, transparency, and active public participation despite the challenges posed by digital information warfare. Reflecting on Türkiye's democratic journey, he noted that repeated military interventions in the past had damaged democratic institutions, yet ultimately strengthened society's determination to defend constitutional governance.

"Our society is really resilient in terms of upholding democracy. We strongly defend democracy, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression. However, when there is a national security threat, there should also be monitoring of activities that may be harmful not only to Turkey but also to the stability of the region," he said.

RRI Voice of Indonesia's Public Relations Desk contributed to this article. (DRH)