Hulusi

Turkey and Germany will take some concrete steps in defense and security matters, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said while elaborating that the exchange of talks between him and his German counterpart Annegret Kramp Karraenbauer during their meeting in Berlin was very constructive.

Turkish defense Minister Hulusi Akar said it would be "very problematic" for Ankara to turn back on its purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems but expressed hope that a dispute with the United States on the issue could be resolved through dialogue.

Akar also reiterated that Turkey was in talks with Russia on obtaining a second consignment of the S400 defense systems.

Turkish officials continued their tactic of making aggressive statements against Greece and the European Union, with the defense minister accusing Greece of "spreading lies" and the representative of the ruling party admonishing the EU that, with the UK out, it better develop better relations with Turkey, on whom it depends for its security.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar insisted again on Thursday that Greece is violating the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne by militarizing 16 islands in the eastern Aegean.

"You can buy as many aircraft, submarines and ships as you like; it won't be enough," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar recently warned Greece. The fact is, they probably will be enough and they're certainly causing concern, otherwise why would our neighbor's top defense official make such a statement?

One day after Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez raised the issue of renegotiating the Lausanne Treaty of 1923, which set out the modern borders between Greece and Turkey, Foreign Minister Hulusi Akar on Tuesday said Greece was "afraid" of exploratory talks between the two sides.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Tuesday said that Ankara wants to settle differences in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and Cyprus through dialogue and good neighborly relations, however stressing that it will do everything to safeguard the rights of the Turkish people, the state-run Anadolu agency reports.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that US sanctions over Ankara's purchase of Russian defenses had shaken all values in their alliance and he called for renewed cooperation between the NATO allies.

On Monday, Washington imposed the sanctions targeting Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industry (SSB), its chairman and three other employees.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey will continue its seismic surveys and drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, including areas around Cyprus, while blaming Greece for raising tensions in the region.

Turkey's control and preparation process for the Russian S-400 missile system is continuing as planned, the country's defense minister said on Dec. 9. 

"The S-400 procurement process is being followed by taking into account the political, military, economic and technological dimensions," Hulusi Akar told lawmakers during the 2021 budget debates in parliament.