Edip Başer

Halit Edip Başer (1942 – 11 March 2021) was a retired Turkish general who served as the 38th commander of the Second Army from 2000 until his retirement in 2002. He previously commanded the Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe in 1998 and was the head of the Intelligence Department at the Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy.

Early life and education Başer was born in 1942 in Nizip, Gaziantep. He earned a doctorate in the history of the Turkish Armed Forces. However, the specific institution from which he obtained his doctorate is not widely documented.

Career Başer began his military career by graduating at the Turkish Military Academy in 1961 and the Infantry School in 1963. He spent the early years of his service as a platoon and company commander in different units of the Turkish Land Forces until 1970. After graduating from the Army War College in 1972, Başer worked at the NATO headquarters in Brussels as a Current Operations Plan officer, then served as the chief of the Strategy Branch in the General Staff's Strategy Plan Department. His responsibilities grew to include the role of general secretary of the Turkish Land Forces, and later, he became the commander of the Presidential Guard Regiment.

In 1986, Başer was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, taking on responsibilities as the head of the Intelligence Department and commander the 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade under Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples. After promoting to the rank of major general in 1990, he oversaw strategic planning and operations at the General Staff. During this period, he commanded the Military Academy and served as military advisor to the Prime Minister. During his tenure from September 2006 to January 2007, he remained engaged in national security matters. He contributed to addressing the security challenges.

In his later years, Başer discussed geopolitical developments potentially leading to the establishment of a Greater Kurdistan, suggesting its implications for Turkey's territorial integrity and regional stability.

Personal life Başer was married to Hülya Başer with two children. He died on 11 March 2021 in Istanbul at the hospital where he had been receiving treatment.