Kuwait city: Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish Parliament's National Defense Committee, announced on Thursday that he engaged in separate discussions with senior US lawmakers in Washington, DC. Akar's meetings aimed to bolster defense cooperation and address counterterrorism efforts.

According to Anadolu Agency, Akar met with Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to discuss bilateral relations, defense and security cooperation, as well as regional and global issues, including developments in Iran. Akar highlighted the significance of robust defense cooperation between Trkiye and the US, particularly the F-35 program, for NATO's deterrence and Euro-Atlantic security. Both parties acknowledged the necessity of maintaining a constructive dialogue between the Turkish and US legislatures.

The discussions come on the heels of last week's NATO summit in Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted US President Donald Trump's positive stance on delivering F-35 fighter jets to Trkiye. Erdogan also mentioned that US sanctions against Ankara have been largely lifted. In 2019, during Trump's first term, the US had suspended Trkiye from the F-35 program due to its procurement of Russia's S-400 missile defense system, citing potential risks to the fighter jets.

In another meeting, Akar conversed with Rep. Rick Crawford, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, focusing on bilateral ties, defense and security cooperation, and regional developments. Akar shared Trkiye's "Terror-Free Trkiye" vision, which is part of a broader "Terror-Free Region" strategy, and emphasized Ankara's expectation for enhanced cooperation with the US in counterterrorism efforts. Both sides reiterated the importance of ongoing parliamentary dialogue between Trkiye and the US.