A team of five operatives from the Zambia Army Special Forces has brought pride to the country after being honoured during the EFES 2026 live military exercises held in Izmir, western Türkiye.
The Zambian soldiers were awarded medals for exemplary conduct and participation during the multinational exercise, with Turkish President and Commander-in-Chief Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally recognising the participating forces during the Distinguished Visitors Day.
The EFES Exercise is one of Türkiye’s biggest military drills, bringing together armed forces from across the world for large-scale combat and tactical training designed to strengthen military cooperation and readiness.
This year’s edition attracted participation from 52 countries, more than 600 military observers, and over 900 active participants.
Zambia’s Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff, Major General Luswepo Sinyinza, was also present during the final stages of the exercise, which officially ran from April 19 to May 21, 2026.
The training covered a wide range of modern warfare operations including amphibious assaults, mechanised warfare, air assault manoeuvres, armour-infantry coordination, anti-drone operations, and special forces missions.
During the event, President Erdoğan described the Turkish Armed Forces as “an Army of peace which won’t harm anyone but its enemies,” while also stressing Türkiye’s growing influence in global security and defence partnerships.
The Zambian delegation also attended a defence exhibition expo where they interacted with officials from Türkiye’s Ministry of Defence and explored advanced military technology produced by the country’s defence industry.
The recognition marks another moment of international exposure for Zambia’s military personnel on the global stage.