Turkish navy drill 'extremely successful, satisfactory'

By Sarp Ozer </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey's largest navy drill, Blue Homeland 2019, is &quot;extremely successful&quot; and its results are &quot;satisfactory&quot;, said the country’s defense minister on Tuesday.</p> <p>&quot;Turkey had the opportunity to show the power of its naval forces to both itself and all the followers of the drill,&quot; Hulusi Akar told Anadolu agency.</p> <p>The Blue Homeland 2019 military drill is a joint military exercise conducted with the attendance of other forces to test the weapons and military systems of Turkish Naval Forces between Feb. 27 and March 8. </p> <p>Akar and top military officials witnessed the drill from the Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.</p> <p>Also commenting on Turkey-Greece relations, Akar said within the framework of good neighborly relations, Turkey is making efforts to improve its bilateral relations with Greece to a much better level by taking confidence building measures in accordance with the international law.</p> <p>Turkey will continue to protect its rights, nation and interests in the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Black Sea, he added.</p> <p>The drill began with the participation of 103 navy ships in the Black Sea, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean surrounding the country as Turkish military is testing its war-fighting capabilities.</p> <p>The drill also aims to boost the efficiency of the systems of command and control.</p> <p>As part of the drill, Turkish navy is visiting 33 Turkish harbors and seven others abroad in the Black Sea. The visits seek to contribute to the friendship and peace.</p> <p>In December 2018, Turkey had conveyed to the Greek authorities about the location and time of the military drill.</p> <p>The flotilla included 13 frigates, six corvettes, 16 assault boats, and seven submarines, seven mine hunting vessels, 14 patrol boats, as well as other navy vessels.</p> <p>The drill, coordinated by the Naval War Center Command, was planned six months in advance in line with the NATO rules and regulations.