Turkish defense chief receives US House Armed Services Committee delegation

ISTANBUL/ANKARA

Türkiye's national defense minister on Friday received a delegation of US members of Congress from the House Armed Services Committee in the capital Ankara, according to an official statement.

"National Defense Minister Yasar Guler received Mike Rogers, chairman of the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member Adam Smith, and members Salud Carbajal and Veronica Escobar. US Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry L. Flake was also present at the reception," the National Defense Ministry said on X.

The meeting is expected to address Türkiye's national security concerns "at the highest level," with a particular focus on issues including counter-terrorism and US support for the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.

The two sides are also expected to discuss Türkiye's acquisition of the F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits process, awaiting US congressional approval.  

Visit to parliament

The delegation also paid a visit to Türkiye's parliament building, where they met with lawmakers on the legislature's Committee on National Defense.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the committee's Chairman Hulusi Akar said there were no problems in the procurement process for the fighter aircraft and kits, adding:

"Necessary agreements and contracts have been made. Our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has had meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ... This now stands before us as a project being followed up on and agreed upon in a normal manner, with no issues."

Akar said that during the meeting, the Turkish side had underlined "the need for cooperation against the presence of PKK/YPG terror group in northern Syria and Iraq, as well as against the ISIS/Daesh presence."

"We expressed the necessity of working together as two allies," he added.

On the matter of Israel's ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, Akar said they highlighted the "urgent need to prevent the deaths of children, women, and innocent people," adding that Türkiye harbors no "hostility towards Israel's existence."

He said they also discussed other regional issues, including the Mediterranean and Greece, as well as the Southern Caucasus nations of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Akar said they "stressed the importance of Armenia accepting the hand that has been extended for peace," adding that the discussion was "very positive and constructive."

"We agreed to continue discussions by meeting in Türkiye or the US," he added.

Expressing his satisfaction with the US delegation's visit, Akar said it provided an opportunity for the sides to express themselves face-to-face after a long period.

"We hadn't been able to come together for a while. I hope from now on, for the benefit of our countries, NATO, regional institutions, peace, stability, and for mutual exchange of views and visits for the resolution of some issues between Türkiye and the US in our region, we will continue," Akar said.

He also conveyed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore.

For his part, the US Armed Services Committee Chairman Rogers said the talks mostly focused on security-related matters, expressing particular interest the in Turkish side's views on how the Russia-Ukraine war could be resolved.  

Talks with presidential chief adviser

Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay also hosted a visiting delegation from the energy, trade, financial services, and budget committees of the US House of Representatives, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

"The strategic framework for energy, energy security, and cooperation opportunities between Türkiye and the United States has been discussed,” the ministry said on X.

Later on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic also met with the US delegation in Istanbul.

Besides the four members of Congress and Ambassador Flake, US Consul General in Istanbul Julie Eadeh was also present at the meeting at the Dolmabahce Office.

During the meeting, developments in US-Türkiye relations, as well as regional and international affairs were discussed.

The sides also discussed the fight against Daesh/ISIS and extremism, the PKK and its organized criminal activities, the Russia-Ukraine war, Palestine, focusing on the ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli attacks there.

Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan had received the delegation on Thursday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Turkish National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin was also scheduled for a subsequent meeting on Friday with the group of US lawmakers, security sources said.