ANKARA (NET) - Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz will pay an official visit to Türkiye Wednesday as both countries successfully managed to mend ties after decade-long friction.

In a statement, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Thursday that Benny Gantz will meet his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar in the capital Ankara.

The defense ties between Türkiye and Israel are expected to be re-established with Gantz's visit.

Israel and Türkiye has established diplomatic ties in 1949, and with this, the latter became the first Muslim-majority country formally recognize the sovereignty of Israel.

The Israeli defense minister has recently visited Azerbaijan which received the support of both Israel and Türkiye during the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

Ehud Barak was the last Israeli defense minister who paid a visit to Türkiye in 2012.