Turkish Armed Forces

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar warned again on Monday that Ankara will not allow any initiatives be taken in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean by Greece and Cyprus without the participation of Turkey.

Speaking during a troops review in southern Turkey, Akar said Turkey will continue to uphold its interests stemming from international law.

Turkey does not have plans to establish a military base in Turkish Cyprus but the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will increase its deployment of troops there, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sept. 16. 

Turkey's ambassador to Athens said that by granting asylum to eight Turkish officers Ankara accuses of participating in the botched coup of 2016, Greece is granting them impunity.

Turkish military chief Gen. Hulusi Akar on June 29 visited military brigades stationed on the border with Syria, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti on June 27 discussed the Turkish-U.S. Manbij roadmap over the phone, according to Turkish military.

Hellenic Armed Forces General Staff (GEETHA) Chief Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis called for the release of the two Greek servicemen who are being held in a Turkish prison since early March, during a meeting with Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, on the sidelines of a NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.

A new 105-millimeter lightweight towed howitzer weapon system, which will raise largely due to the Turkish Armed Forces' logistical and tactical maneuverability, has been indigenously produced, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli announced on May 5, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

An adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan boasted in a recent television interview that Turkish military forces not only infiltrated 55 kilometers into Greek territory, but took down flags from a cluster of small islets in the southeastern Aegean as well.

The Turkish Armed Forces are ready to perform every task in the seas but Turkey wants the Aegean Sea to be "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said on April 10, referring to recent tensions with Greece.

Turkey will not allow a faits accompli in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish armed forces chief General Hulusi Akar said Tuesday after a visit at Turkey's Golcuk naval base and military camps at the Gallipoli peninsula, reports say.