Hulusi Akar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hulusi Akar
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Akar in 2019
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| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 10 July 2018 – 3 June 2023 |
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| President | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Preceded by | Nurettin Canikli |
| Succeeded by | Yaşar Güler |
| 29th Chief of the Turkish General Staff | |
| In office 18 August 2015 – 10 July 2018 |
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| President | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Preceded by | Necdet Özel |
| Succeeded by | Yaşar Güler |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 2 June 2023 |
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| Constituency | Kayseri (2023) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 March 1952 Kayseri, Turkey |
| Political party | Justice and Development Party |
| Spouse | Şule Akar |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | See below |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname | Seri Paşa |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Turkey |
| Branch/service | Turkish Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1973–2018 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | Chief of the General Staff Commander of Land Forces Deputy Chief of the General Staff 3rd Land Forces Corps Land Forces Logistics Command Land Forces General Staff College Command Military Academy Command Chief of Plans and Policy Internal Security Brigade Command Chief of Public Information |
| Battles/wars | Bosnian War ISAF Coalition Kosovo War Turkey-PKK conflict Turkey-ISIL conflict Operation Shah Euphrates Operation Euphrates Shield Operation Olive Branch Operation Peace Spring |
Hulusi Akar, born on March 12, 1952, is a retired four-star Turkish Armed Forces general. He served as the Minister of National Defense for Turkey from 2018 to 2023. Before that, he was the 29th Chief of the Turkish General Staff, which is the highest military position in Turkey.
Akar played important roles in various NATO missions. These included helping in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War. He also oversaw many of Turkey's actions in the Syrian Civil War. In the 2023 Turkish parliamentary election, he was elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Turkey's parliament) representing the Justice and Development Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hulusi Akar was born in 1952 in Kayseri, Turkey. He started his military education at the Turkish Military Academy, graduating in 1972. He then completed his training at the Turkish Infantry School in 1973.
He continued his studies at Queen's University Belfast in 1975, focusing on International Diplomacy. Akar also took academic courses in Computer Programming and International Relations. He earned his doctorate from Boğaziçi University. His doctoral research looked at how political and military events in 1919 affected Turkish-American relations. This research was later published as a book.
Military Career
Akar held many different roles early in his military career. He worked as a commander and a chief in various units. He also taught at the Army Command and Staff College. From 1990 to 1993, he worked as a staff officer in the intelligence division for Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
From 1993 to 1994, he was a Military Assistant to the Land Forces Commander. He also served as the Chief Public Information Officer. He continued this role for the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces from 1994 to 1997. After that, he commanded the Turkish Brigade in Zenica, Bosnia, from 1997 to 1998.
When he became a brigadier general in 1998, he led the Internal Security Brigade for two years. Then, from 2000 to 2002, he was the Chief of Plans and Policy in AFSOUTH. After being promoted to major general in 2002, he commanded the Military Academy for three years. He then led the Army Command and Staff College for two years until 2007.
As a lieutenant general, he commanded Land Forces Logistics. He also led the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Turkey and the 3rd Corps from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, he became a full general. He served as the Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff from 2011 to 2013. Then, he was the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces from 2013 to 2015.
On August 2, 2015, General Akar was chosen to be the 29th Chief of the Turkish General Staff. He officially started this important role on August 18, 2015.
Chief of General Staff
On July 15, 2016, during an attempted coup in Turkey, General Akar was held by those involved. He refused to sign a declaration of martial law. He was rescued by pro-government forces early on July 16, 2016. During his capture, General Ümit Dündar served as the Acting Chief of General Staff.
In 2016, Akar led Operation Euphrates Shield. This was a Turkish military action in Syria against groups like ISIL and various armed Kurdish groups.
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Defense Minister
On July 9, 2018, Turkey's president Erdogan appointed Akar as the Minister for National Defense. This was a notable event because it was the first time a civilian government in Turkey appointed an active military officer to this position.
In July 2020, Akar spoke about the 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes. He stated that Turkey would continue to support Azerbaijan against Armenia. He also visited a Turkish military base in Iraq during the Turkish invasion in Northern Iraq. This operation was against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.
Akar supports Turkey's decision to install the Russian S-400 missile system. This decision has been met with opposition from Turkey's NATO allies. In November 2021, he discussed the use of chemical weapons in Iraqi Kurdistan in the Turkish Parliament.
On April 17, 2022, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock against PKK militants. On June 17, 2022, Akar announced his full support for the enlargement of NATO. However, he was against Finland and Sweden joining at that time due to their perceived support for terrorism.
Awards and Decorations
Hulusi Akar has received several important awards and decorations:
- Turkey – TAF Medal of Distinguished Service
- Turkey – TAF Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice
- Turkey – TAF Medal of Honor
- Pakistan – Nishan-e-Imtiaz
- US – Legion of Merit
- South Korea – Order of National Security Merit of South Korea
- Azerbaijan – Distinguished Service in Military Cooperation Medal
- Kazakhstan – 20th Anniversary Medal of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan – Chief of Staff Distinguished Service Medal
Personal Life
Hulusi Akar is married to Şule Akar, and they have two children. Besides Turkish, he can also speak English and Italian.
See also
In Spanish: Hulusi Akar para niños
