Chief of the Turkish General Staff
Encyclopedia
The General Staff of the Republic of Turkey (Turkish
: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, abbreviation: T.C. Gnkur. Bşk.) presides over the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Turkey, comprising the Army
, Navy
and Air Force
. The General Command of the Gendarmerie
and the Coast Guard
, which operate as parts of the internal security forces in peacetime, are subordinate to the Army and Navy Commands, respectively, in wartime, and both have law enforcement and military
functions.
.
According to the Constitution of Turkey
, the Chief of the General Staff reports to the Prime Minister
during peacetime and serves as Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces
. During peacetime, the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard
, as part of the internal security forces, are affiliated with the Ministry of Interior Affairs at peacetime, whereas at war-time, they fall under the Army Command and Navy Command, respectively.
In times of war, the Chief of the General Staff assumes the authority of Commander in Chief on behalf of the President
. Commanding the Armed Forces and establishing the policies and programs related with the preparation of personnel for combat, intelligence
, operations, organization, training and logistic services are the responsibilities of the General Staff. Furthermore, the General Staff coordinates the military relations of the Turkish Armed Forces with its counterparts in the member states of NATO and other friendly nations.
The Chief of the General Staff holds the fifth-highest rank, behind the President of the Republic, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly and the Prime Minister, on the protocol of the Republic of Turkey.
It is customary for the Chief of the General Staff to have held the posts of Commander of the Army
, Commander of the First Army prior to their appointment.
.
According to the constitution, the office of the 'Commander in Chief' is represented in the spiritual entity of the Grand National Assembly. The Chief of the General Staff is appointed by the President as the Commander of the Armed Forces and reports to the Prime Minister
. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Grand National Assembly for national security and the preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces to defend the country. However, the authority to declare a state of war and send the Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in Turkey require a vote of approval from the Turkish Parliament.
The Chief of the General Staff is responsible to the Prime Minister and is charged with the overall command and control of the Armed Forces. He is also responsible for conducting the military operations effectively, and the operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
The commanders of the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) report directly to the Chief of the General Staff. The General Staff and the Ministry of National Defense work in close coordination and cooperation to fulfill their respective responsibilities.
Organization of the National Defense of Turkey
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, abbreviation: T.C. Gnkur. Bşk.) presides over the Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
of the Republic of Turkey, comprising the Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
, Navy
Turkish Navy
The Turkish Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.- Ottoman fleet after Mudros :Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy, Liva Amiral Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be...
and Air Force
Turkish Air Force
The Turkish Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It ranks 3rd in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the USAF and Royal Air Force with a current inventory of 798 aircraft .-Initial stages:...
. The General Command of the Gendarmerie
Turkish Gendarmerie
The Turkish Gendarmerie is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces and it is responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces , as well as assuring internal security and general border control along with carrying out other specific...
and the Coast Guard
Turkish Coast Guard
The Turkish Coast Guard is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces and was established in 1859.-Organization:...
, which operate as parts of the internal security forces in peacetime, are subordinate to the Army and Navy Commands, respectively, in wartime, and both have law enforcement and military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
functions.
Chief of the General Staff
The Chief of the General Staff is the Commander of the Armed Forces. The current Chief of the General Staff is Necdet ÖzelNecdet Özel
Necdet Özel is the 28th Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey. He was appointed to the post on 4 August 2011. He was described by Turkish media as "army man with strong democratic credentials" .- References :...
.
According to the Constitution of Turkey
Constitution of Turkey
This article relates to a current event. See also the Turkish constitutional referendum, 2010The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey is Turkey's fundamental law. It establishes the organization of the government and sets out the principles and rules of the state's conduct along with its...
, the Chief of the General Staff reports to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Turkey
The Prime Minister of the Turkey is the head of government in Turkish politics. The prime minister is the leader of a political coalition in the Turkish parliament and the leader of the cabinet....
during peacetime and serves as Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
. During peacetime, the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard
Turkish Coast Guard
The Turkish Coast Guard is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces and was established in 1859.-Organization:...
, as part of the internal security forces, are affiliated with the Ministry of Interior Affairs at peacetime, whereas at war-time, they fall under the Army Command and Navy Command, respectively.
In times of war, the Chief of the General Staff assumes the authority of Commander in Chief on behalf of the President
President of Turkey
The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions...
. Commanding the Armed Forces and establishing the policies and programs related with the preparation of personnel for combat, intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, operations, organization, training and logistic services are the responsibilities of the General Staff. Furthermore, the General Staff coordinates the military relations of the Turkish Armed Forces with its counterparts in the member states of NATO and other friendly nations.
The Chief of the General Staff holds the fifth-highest rank, behind the President of the Republic, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly and the Prime Minister, on the protocol of the Republic of Turkey.
It is customary for the Chief of the General Staff to have held the posts of Commander of the Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
, Commander of the First Army prior to their appointment.
Defense organization
The hierarchy, representation and employment of the Turkish Armed Forces within the state organization is regulated by the constitution of TurkeyConstitution of Turkey
This article relates to a current event. See also the Turkish constitutional referendum, 2010The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey is Turkey's fundamental law. It establishes the organization of the government and sets out the principles and rules of the state's conduct along with its...
.
According to the constitution, the office of the 'Commander in Chief' is represented in the spiritual entity of the Grand National Assembly. The Chief of the General Staff is appointed by the President as the Commander of the Armed Forces and reports to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Turkey
The Prime Minister of the Turkey is the head of government in Turkish politics. The prime minister is the leader of a political coalition in the Turkish parliament and the leader of the cabinet....
. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Grand National Assembly for national security and the preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces to defend the country. However, the authority to declare a state of war and send the Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in Turkey require a vote of approval from the Turkish Parliament.
The Chief of the General Staff is responsible to the Prime Minister and is charged with the overall command and control of the Armed Forces. He is also responsible for conducting the military operations effectively, and the operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
The commanders of the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) report directly to the Chief of the General Staff. The General Staff and the Ministry of National Defense work in close coordination and cooperation to fulfill their respective responsibilities.
Organization of the National Defense of Turkey