ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Brazil and Turkey are forming working groups to strengthen and promote bilateral defense projects.
The groups -- in the naval, aeronautics, space, command-and-control and cyberdefense fields -- were announced this week during an official trip to Turkey by Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim.
"The groups will consist of civil and military representatives of both governments, and should also count on the participation of defense manufacturers from both countries," the Brazilian Ministry of Defense said in a news announcement. "In the coming weeks, it is expected that dates should be agreed for inaugural technical meetings, which take place in Brazil and Turkey before the end of this year.
"Defense cooperation with Turkey is based on the central idea that the two countries -- nations with similar levels of development, with no conflicts of interest and pursuing increasing participation in the international arena -- have much to gain from the development of common projects, both economically and strategically."
The two countries are already jointly developing a fifth-generation fighter aircraft and a helicopter gunship.
"Our relationship has already achieved the status of strategic partnership," Turkish Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz said. "The defense industry of my country has carried out major projects and we are ready to cooperate."
