Turkiye honours Pakistan's naval chief with prestigious Legion of Merit medal

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf has been awarded the Legion of Merit medal by the Turkish armed forces in recognition of his role in advancing maritime cooperation and defence relations between Pakistan and Turkiye.

The award was presented by Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, during Admiral Ashraf’s official visit to Turkiye. The honour reflects growing military and strategic ties between the two nations, particularly in the naval domain.

Upon arrival at the Turkish Naval Forces Headquarters, Admiral Ashraf was received with a guard of honour. He held bilateral talks with Admiral Tatlioglu, where both sides discussed areas of mutual interest and explored avenues to strengthen operational collaboration between the two navies.

During his stay, Admiral Ashraf met with several senior Turkish defence officials, including Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler, Chief of the General Staff General Metin Gurak, and Commander of the Turkish Naval Fleet Admiral Kadir Yildiz.

Discussions focused on regional maritime security and broader defence cooperation, with particular emphasis on joint exercises, training programs, and institutional exchanges.

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The Pakistani Naval Chief also visited the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, where he received a briefing on the Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM project, a key element of defence collaboration between the two countries. He later toured the Golcuk Naval Base, inspecting submarine design and construction facilities and visiting Turkish naval platforms, including TCG Oruçreis and the submarine Pirireis.

Admiral Ashraf also paid tribute at the mausoleum of Turkiye’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, laying a wreath in his honour. His engagements concluded with a visit to the Turkish Navy’s North Sea Command.