Supreme Military Council

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged that Türkiye will take decisive measures against "expansionist ambitions" to ensure regional stability and security.

Turkish Education Minister, Yusuf Tekin stated on Monday that he would like to see Halki Greek Orthodox seminary open. 

However Tekin clarified that the final decision will be taken by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Earlier, the head of American diplomacy had met in Constantinople with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Following deliberations by the Supreme Military Council, handover ceremonies have been conducted at the land and air forces commands to formalize the new assignments within the command structure.

The Defense Ministry unveiled that Gen. Musa Avsever, the retired Land Forces commander, transferred his responsibilities to Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

The Supreme Military Council presided over by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced the appointment of Gen. Metin Gürak as the new chief of General Staff.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will preside over the Supreme Military Council meeting next week at the Presidential Complex, where key appointments and promotions within the Turkish Armed Forces will be deliberated.

The government is seeking to extend the tenure of Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, who normally should retire due to age limitations this August.

A bill submitted to parliament stipulates extending the age limit from 67 to 72 for the chief of general staff.

Turkey has replaced Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar with 1st Army Commander Gen. Musa Avsever in a routine reshuffle as the former is retired as per the age limitation, while Navy and Air forces commander's mandates are extended for another year.

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Turkey will convene its Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) on Aug. 4, where decisions will be taken to name top military brass.

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The YAŞ is convened every year to discuss promotions and dismissals of the high-ranking military personnel under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with the participation of key civilian and military officials.

Turkish security forces have neutralized more than 18,000 terrorists since July 24, 2015, the national defense minister said on June 25. 

Hulusi Akar, accompanied by Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar, Naval Forces Admiral Adnan Özbal and Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Küçükakyüz visited a military base in the eastern province of Malatya.