A meeting with Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar that coincided with a visit with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, has revealed that Turkey and Saudi Arabia will conduct joint military exercises.

Sources have said that the bilateral strategy would be a decisive decision based on "a common strategy based on a common threat". The two countries' armed forces will hold joint exercises.

In an official statement, the General Staff Chief said that Saudi Arabia Chief of Staf General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan attended a dinner visit at 7.30 on the eve 30th January, and on the 31st January al-Bunyan along with Akar visited the Air Operations Center in Riyadh as well as accepting a dinner invitation by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

It was reported that General Akar also paid a visit to the General Staff Headquarters, the King Abdul Aziz Military Academy, the Turkish Embassy in Riyadh as well as the Military Attache in Riyadh before returning to Turkey.

Two important main decisions have been made regarding the international community sending troops into Syria - firstly, the US with its current disposition towards Russia is aware that the UN cannot make a decision and as a result cannot make any preparations. Secondly, the Turkish Armed Forces will not send ground forces into Syria without the UNSC making any firm decision.

PHOTO CAPTION

A picture taken from Turkey shows refugee tents near Turkish-Syria border near Kilis city, Turkey, 07 February 2016.

AA