IDF Chief of Staff Visits Turkey
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited Ankara on March 15 at the invitation of General Ilker Basbug, the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces.
The visit of Ashkenazi marked the first visit to Turkey by an IDF chief of staff in nearly five years. The visit took place in the framework of a conference sponsored by NATO's International Counterterrorism Center.
While in Ankara, Ashkenazi held separate meetings with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and with Basbug. Reportedly, the discussions included relations between the two armies, future joint exercises and strategic issues regarding Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Gen.Ashkenazi’s trip follows a visit by Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who visited Ankara in January.
