Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler to discuss shared bilateral and multilateral defense goals. Secretary Austin and Minister Guler lauded the long history of military cooperation between the United States and Turkiye and applauded our continued close cooperation. They also discussed the positive talks between Turkiye, Sweden, and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, as well as the Department of Defense's support for Turkiye's military modernization.