Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz says terrorism has cost the nation over $2 trillion

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz addressed the ELBİRFED "Çaydaçıra Işığında Birlik Gecesi" in Ankara, saying that the total direct and indirect cost of terrorism to Turkey exceeds $2 trillion. He argued that those funds, if directed toward development, could have dramatically advanced the country’s economy, social welfare and technology.

Yılmaz also highlighted the reconstruction efforts in his home province of Elazığ after the 2020 and February 2023 earthquakes, noting that more than $100 billion has been spent and over 450,000 homes have been handed to owners. He praised the region’s strong solidarity culture and claimed the rebuilt infrastructure helped Elazığ suffer fewer losses than other provinces. The vice president concluded by commending President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and urging that resources be channeled to prosperity rather than conflict.