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Commander of the Zambia Army, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, has described the Turkish Defence Force as a highly professional institution with a strong commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty, noting Türkiye’s ability to maintain peace, stability and economic resilience despite operating in a challenging regional security environment.
He made the remarks on February 12, 2026, during a courtesy call on the General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, in Ankara.
The Zambia Army Commander also acknowledged the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting that it had played a key role in strengthening Türkiye’s defence industry and national economy.
Zyeele said Zambia was keen to draw lessons from Türkiye’s military experience, particularly in border management and internal security.
“We need to learn from Türkiye’s professional military experience, especially in effectively managing borders and maintaining peace and stability. We have been briefed on your defence manufacturing industries and their contribution to a strong defence posture,” he said.
Zyeele added that Zambia was in Türkiye on the directive of its Commander-in-Chief to establish partnerships with the Turkish Defence Force in areas of mutual interest.
He further expressed Zambia’s desire to expedite the completion of all outstanding elements of the Memorandum of Understanding, saying this would mark the
beginning of structured exchange programmes.
“To us, modernisation is not just a requirement but a strategic imperative. As we begin this partnership journey, we commit ourselves to collective security and joint training programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gen Bayraktaroğlu reaffirmed Türkiye’s readiness to cooperate with the Zambia Defence Force in areas including training, counter-terrorism, defence industry development, border management and peacekeeping operations.
He described Zambia as a strategic partner in Africa, citing its geographical position and commitment to regional peace, and said Türkiye was ready to provide support of mutual benefit.
Earlier, Zyeele held talks with the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, General Metin Tokel, focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
The Zambia Army Commander also paid a visit to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Türkiye’s founding father, in a ceremony reflecting the nation’s respect for its first leader.
Zyeele is in Türkiye at the invitation of the Turkish Chief of General Staff, where further discussions on strategic defence and military industries are expected to take place.
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