UPDATE - Top Turkish, US defense officials to meet in Brussels

UPDATES WITH MORE INFORMATION, ADDS NATO MEETING BACKGROUND

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s defense minister will meet the acting U.S. defense secretary on Wednesday, an official statement said on Tuesday.

According to Turkish Defense Ministry, Hulusi Akar and Patrick Shanahan are expected to meet on the sidelines of NATO defense ministers meeting, which is set to be held in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.

The two-day meeting will address the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, NATO’s defense and deterrence posture, NATO’s missions and operations, and European cooperation on defense.

Akar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from France, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy and Georgia.

Turkey’s defense chief is planned to meet with his newly appointed Greek counterpart, Evangelos Apostolakis, as well.

Earlier, Akar congratulated Apostolakis in a letter, and invited him to Turkey.

Discussions on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) and NATO’s defense and deterrence posture session are the meetings Akar to attend.