Turkish combat drones help Mali control its land: Minister

By Zeynep Duyar

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) are of great help to Mali to control its lands, said Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Abdoulaye Diop said on Thursday.

Speaking at the fourth term Türkiye-Mali Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting held in the capital Ankara, Diop underlined the strong cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense and security.

Diop noted that the use of combat drones helped Mali achieve results that are "appreciated today".

The country is willing to transform areas such as agriculture, textile and mining, with "reliable, friendly and strategic partners like Türkiye," he added.

On his part, Türkiye's Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said the two countries agreed on legal legislation that improves the investment environment, moves to boost trade volume, and expands infrastructure services and sectoral cooperation, especially in the defense industry.

The ministers agreed to focus on mutual investments and infrastructure projects to ensure a continuous hike in bilateral trade, Kacir said.