I think it's important to point out that a war of atrocities is very costly and having several fronts would weaken our overall capability. So we need to absolute dominate any front we open. Having the means to keep your enemy hesitant to join in the fray is another capability we need. first strike, absolute domination, deterrent is what we'll need.
Look at how China grabbed and built and island in southern chinese sea and will lay claim to everything there. I think it's just as important for Turkey to do something similar like that within out EEZ. If there is a rock out there potruding above the sea. expand it, build a light tower, and a something like a naval outpost.
Like the philippine Navy who're using a rusted ship as a base in the spratleys. I don't know if Duterte has built a proper base and such there, but they need to or else China is going to push the borders.
The same goes for our "neighbors", they'll push and fortify islands close to Turkey and anything else to violate or challenge our EEZ.
RTE has prestige projects, but we need to guard out EEZ just as well. Look at how easy Russia annexed Crim. In this time an age "political" solution is a BS word once you lose something. You need absolute weaponry and power to protect what is yours.
if Ukraine had been stronger economically and didn't have the problems, looking into the future and constructing a nuclear power plant close to russian border area in crim would have been something strategic wise. in worse case you can intentionally cause a meltdown.
Ukraine got crim because they were stuck with tjernobyl, now Russia recaptured crim, and Ukraine is stuck with tjernobyl.
I believe the above strategy is one reason, maybe the hidden reason, for why Armenia has a nuclear power plant that is very old close to Turkey.
Just my opinion
it is not exercise. Its real battlefield.
