The Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, met in Ankara Tuesday with Hulusi Akar, Turkish Minister of Defense, to review issues of common interest.
The Turkish Minister of Defense welcomed the visit of Al Rumaithi and his accompanying delegation, and discussed with them the prospects of enhancing bilateral relations, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense and was attended by Turkish Chief of Staff Yasar Guler, Turkish media reported.
At the end of last May, Akar made an official visit to the UAE at the invitation of his counterpart, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi.
Akar’s official visit to the UAE was the first of its kind for a Turkish defense minister in 15 years, according to sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry.
During the meeting of Akar and Al Bowardi, it was agreed that the chiefs of staff of the two countries would hold a meeting in order to increase high-level mutual visits.
Al Rumaithi also met with the Chief of the General Staff General Yaşar Güler to review ways to advance defence relations between the two nations.
The meeting took place amid a military reception ceremony at the headquarters of the Turkish General Staff in Ankara.
In another development, the UAE Ministry of Defence has honoured a group of male and female officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, civilians, retired personnel and recruits of the National Service from different specialisations for winning the 5th edition of the UAE Armed Forces Excellence and Innovation Award.
The ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Matar Salim Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, and a number of high-ranking officers.
Addressing the ceremony, Major General Dr. Mubarak Al Jabri, Assistant Undersecretary for Support and Defence Industries, Ministry of Defence, and Chairman of the Award’s Higher Committee, said the winning works will be developed into value-added products that benefit “our armed forces and the national defence industries.”
Mohammed Al Bowardi also attended a ceremony for signing a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), an overarching advanced technology research body in Abu Dhabi, to promote the culture of scientific research and innovation and exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Inked by Major General Dr. Mubarak Saeed Ghafan Al Jabri, Assistant Undersecretary for Support and Defence Industries, Ministry of Defence, and Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the ATRC, the partnership will encourage conducting advanced technology research that elevate the UAE's position as a leading regional hub for the AI community.
Founded in 2018, the award aims to foster excellence and innovation among the UAE Armed Forces officers and personnel.
