Ten years after the coup attempt: 'The Turkish military is no longer a political actor'

A decade after the attempted coup in Turkey, expert analysis suggests the event was orchestrated mainly by officers connected to the network of preacher Fethullah Gülen. While other officers initially joined the coup, some from the secular military, dissatisfied with the AKP's policies, later withdrew. Precise details about these groups remain unclear.

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From what has become known to this day, one cannot claim: The Gülen network had nothing to do with it.

The relationship between the Gülen movement and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AKP party was complex. They previously collaborated against the secular military and judiciary, viewing them as threats. However, differences emerged over Turkey's stance on Israel and the Kurdish conflict. Investigations into intelligence chief Hakan Fidan by Gülen-affiliated prosecutors highlighted these tensions, as did the ongoing struggle for influence within the judiciary, parliament, and bureaucracy, which likely extended to the military.

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It is assumed that this struggle also took place within the military.

Erdoğan famously described the coup attempt as a "gift from God" shortly after it occurred, initiating swift and extensive purges. The existence of pre-prepared lists of opponents has fueled speculation in the Turkish press that the government might have been forewarned. The lack of transparency surrounding the parliamentary inquiry into the coup, including the refusal of key military leaders to testify and the non-publication of the report, suggests a deliberate effort to conceal information. This context supports the view that the coup attempt provided Erdoğan with a crucial opportunity to eliminate political opposition and consolidate his power.

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The names and lists were already ready.