Hulusi

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Jan. 2 accused Greece of trying to increase tension in the Aegean with provocative actions and rhetoric due to domestic political considerations.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has admitted that he invited his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, and his wife to Türkiye to create a positive atmosphere amid the increasing tension between the two countries.

"I invited Panagiotopoulos to Türkiye with his wife when we were in Brussels," Akar said during an exclusive interview on Oct. 20.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has warned Greece, which makes various military deals, highlighting that the "enthusiasm for armament will increase tension."

Answering questions by journalists at a military exercise on Oct. 18, Akar stressed that the only solution to solve problems with Greece would be with dialogue.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has accused Greece of conducting a "hypocritical policy" and continuing provocations, although Türkiye has been aiming for dialogue to settle the bilateral problems.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Sept. 2 warned Greece to keep peaceful relations with Türkiye instead of militarizing attempts.

Türkiye has said the Greek harassment of the Turkish jets by the S-300 air defense system over the Aegean is unacceptable, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has strongly urged Greece to avoid new adventures that would result in a big defeat just like they had observed one century ago, in remarks following the Greek warplanes' harassment of the Turkish F-16s twice in three days.

It is supposed that summers in the Aegean should be "calm". This is imposed at least by the "Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum" of 1988, but also by the practice followed by Greece and Turkey in previous years, with this "tradition" being disrupted from 2020 onwards.

There is a general consensus among relevant parties for establishing an operation center in Istanbul and opening a corridor that will enable Ukrainian grain to reach global markets, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on June 23.

"We see that concrete steps can be taken," he told reporters.

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.