Sarp Özer
16 February 2022•Update: 17 February 2022
BRUSSELS
Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday met with his Romanian counterpart Vasile Dincu to discuss regional challenges as well as defense-related issues.
The meeting took place in Brussels following a session of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group held as part of a NATO defense ministers meeting.
The two exchanged views on regional security, defense, and cooperation in the defense industry.
Akar said Romania is an important ally for Turkiye and that they have a variety of cooperation opportunities in military training and other fields.
He stressed the importance of preserving the Montreux Convention and maintaining the Black Sea as a sea of peace.
The 1936 convention gives Turkiye control over its straits and authority to regulate the transit of naval warships.
Akar also met with Artis Pabriks, the defense minister of Latvia, and the two discussed bilateral ties and regional defense as well as security, cooperation, and NATO matters.
Akar and his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos also congratulated each other on the 70th anniversary of both countries joining the NATO alliance.
Meeting later with British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, Akar and his UK counterpart exchanged views on defense industry cooperation as well as bilateral and regional defense issues.
