Japan's defense minister visits Turkey for discussions on the collaboration of defense, Drones

Ankara, – Japan’s defense minister will talk in Turkey on Tuesday about collaboration of the defensive industry, including the possible offer of Turkish -made drones, as Tokyo expands the role of unmanned systems in his armed forces, a diplomatic source said. Gen Nakatani is the first Japanese Minister of Defense to make such an official trip to Turkey, a country of NATO eager to expand its economic and other ties outside Europe and the Middle East. Turkey and Japan are both American allies. Nakatani and Turkey’s Minister of Defense is expected to discuss Yasar Guler ‘ways to expand collaboration on defense equipment and technology and exchange views on regional developments’, the diplomatic source in Ankara said. They also intend to increase contacts between the Turkish army and Japan’s self -defense powers at the unit level, the source added. Nakatani is also scheduled to visit Istanbul on Wednesday. Turkish and Japanese defense ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. During the visit, Nakatani will include Turkish defense companies and facilities, including Turkish aviation industries, naval ships and Drone manufacturer Baykar, a source in the industry said. Turkey-supported firms provided drones to several countries, including Ukraine, while Japan prepared to expand the use of unmanned air vehicles over its soil, air and fleet forces. Japan is considering Turkish drones under potential options as part of this effort, the diplomatic source said. Turkey and Japan condemned both Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although Ankara had cordial relations with Moscow and did not join the Western economic sanctions. Nakatani’s visit to Turkey is part of a regional tour of August 17 to 22, which also includes stops in Djibouti and Jordan. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without edits to text.