Turkish chief of staff joins virtual NATO meeting

ANKARA

Turkey's army chief attended a video conference meeting with NATO's top commanders, the Turkish Armed Forces said on Thursday.

Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Guler took part in the NATO Military Committee General Staff Chiefs Meeting which was held with the participation of 30 countries, the top military body said on Twitter.

The global fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic, as well as security issues, were discussed during the meeting, it added.

Over 4.4 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in 188 countries since the coronavirus emerged in China last December. The US and Europe are currently the hardest-hit areas.

A significant number of COVID-19 patients -- over 1.57 million -- have recovered worldwide, but the disease has claimed more than 300,000 lives, according to data compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.