Ankara:Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, was conferred with the prestigious Legion of Merit by the Turkish Armed Forces during his official visit to Türkiye. The award was presented by Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, in recognition of Admiral Ashraf’s efforts to enhance defence ties and maritime cooperation between the two nations.
Upon his arrival at the Turkish Naval Forces Headquarters, Admiral Naveed Ashraf was received with a guard of honour. He held a meeting with Admiral Tatlıoğlu, where the two naval chiefs discussed matters of mutual professional interest and explored avenues for deeper collaboration between the Pakistan Navy and Turkish Naval Forces.
During the visit, Admiral Ashraf also called on several senior officials, including Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler, Chief of the General Staff General Metin Gürak, and Commander of the Turkish Naval Fleet Admiral Kadir Yıldız. The discussions centered on regional maritime security and broader defence cooperation. Admiral Ashraf emphasized the importance of joint naval exercises, high-level visits, training initiatives, and exchange programs to strengthen bilateral ties.
The Naval Chief also visited the Istanbul Naval Shipyard and received a detailed briefing on the Pakistan Navy’s ongoing MILGEM project. He toured submarine design and construction facilities at the Golcuk Naval Base and inspected Turkish Navy units including TCG Oruçreis, the submarine Pirireis, and the National Defence University in Türkiye.
Admiral Ashraf further paid homage at the mausoleum of Türkiye’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, where he laid a wreath. He also held a meeting with the Commander of the North Sea Area.
The visit is seen as a significant step in reinforcing the strategic maritime partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, with both sides reiterating their commitment to bolstering regional security and cooperation in the naval domain.
