During an official visit to Türkiye in early August 2025, Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf was honored with the Turkish Armed Forces’ Legion of Merit, one of the nation’s highest military decorations affirming the growing defense and naval cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye.

Arrival & Honor Ceremony in Ankara

Upon arrival at the Turkish Naval Forces Headquarters in Ankara, Admiral Ashraf was greeted with a formal guard of honour, marking the commencement of his visit. Immediately thereafter, he was received by Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, who personally presented him with the prestigious decoration in recognition of his contributions toward enhancing bilateral naval collaboration.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

Admiral Ashraf held strategic meetings with top Turkish defense officials including:

  • Minister of National Defence: Yasar Güler
  • Chief of General Staff: General Metin Gürak
  • Commander of Turkish Naval Fleet: Admiral Kadir Yıldız

These discussions focused on reinforcing regional maritime security, expanding joint exercises, fostering staff exchanges, and enhancing training programs to elevate interoperability between the two navies.

Naval Projects & Facility Visits

As part of the official itinerary, Admiral Ashraf undertook a series of key visits:

  • At Istanbul Naval Shipyard, he received a detailed briefing on the Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM corvette project, highlighting ongoing technology transfer and collaboration under the 2018 agreement.
  • At Gölcük Naval Base, he toured submarine design and construction facilities, observing Turkey’s advanced naval infrastructure and industry capabilities.
  • He also inspected Turkish Navy vessels, including TCG Oruçreis and S/M Piri Reis, and visited the National Defence University in Türkiye, underscoring educational and operational exchange opportunities.

Admiral Ashraf concluded the visit by laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Türkiye’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, paying tribute to shared ideals and historic ties.

Strategic Implications: Maritime Partnership Strengthened

  • The Legion of Merit award symbolizes Turkey’s recognition of Admiral Ashraf’s role in deepening defense ties and maritime cooperation.
  • The visit reinforces ongoing projects like MILGEM corvettes and tactical collaboration underscoring the growing compatibility between Pakistan’s naval modernization efforts and Turkish defense engineering.
  • Joint staff engagements and visits suggest expanding partnerships across training, intelligence-sharing, and operational readiness domains.

Why This Matters

This highly symbolic gesture reflects not just personal honor for Admiral Ashraf but also the deepening strategic alignment between Pakistan and Türkiye. As both nations continue to elevate their naval capabilities and defense cooperation, continued collaboration across shipbuilding, tactical exercises, and maritime diplomacy is expected to contribute to regional stability and mutual defense readiness.