Defense Minister Guler to meet US lawmakers in Ankara

The U.S. group, comprising a quartet of House Armed Services Committee members, will meet with Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Friday.

The team has sway over defense policy, military actions, defense industry exports and other defense-related affairs.

According to a Turkish official, Defense Minister Guler will host the American team in Ankara.

The agenda includes discussions on counterterrorism collaboration, with Ankara pressing Washington to halt its backing of the YPG in northern Syria.

Enhancing bilateral talks on defense industry matters is also on the table. 

Following Türkiye's approval of Sweden's NATO accession and the U.S.'s approval of selling 40 new F-16s to its NATO partner, Ankara-Washington relations have embarked on a new chapter. 

A recent Strategic Mechanism meeting between the foreign ministers of both nations underscored their eagerness to bolster ties in areas like economy, trade, investments and energy. 

Guler will delve into the military-to-military bond between the allies.

Ankara's requests to Washington encompass the lifting of sanctions under the CAATSA because of the S-400 deployment and reimbursement for the F-35 funds after its expulsion from the project. 

The U.S. delegation is set to engage with former Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, presently heading the Defense Committee of the Turkish parliament, as per the Turkish official. 

Source: Newsroom