Powerful Turkish acquisition by Britain/New geopolitical alliance between London and Ankara

2025-10-28 19:24:51Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Powerful Turkish acquisition by Britain/New geopolitical alliance between London
New geopolitical alliance between London and Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a cooperation agreement for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets in Ankara on Monday, marking a new milestone in bilateral defense relations.

President Erdogan described the agreement as "a new sign of the strategic relationship between Turkey and the United Kingdom", saying it would pave the way for joint defense projects.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer said: “This will strengthen security across NATO, deepen our bilateral defence cooperation and boost economic growth here and in the UK, securing 20,000 British jobs by building these state-of-the-art fighter jets.”

Turkish Minister of National Defense, Yasar Guler, said that Turkey plans to purchase Eurofighter Typhoons from several countries, including 20 from the United Kingdom and 12 each from Qatar and Oman.

Guler spoke to reporters after Erdogan and Starmer's meeting, adding that the planes from Qatar could arrive early next year.

Starmer and Erdogan also announced the launch of the first framework for bilateral cooperation between the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Starmer called it "a turning point that reflects the growing depth and breadth of our existing cooperation and our ambition to go further."

President Erdogan said: "We are committed to increasing our trade volume with the United Kingdom, initially to $30 billion and eventually to $40 billion. We are determined to strengthen our economic ties."

Earlier, Starmer was received at an official ceremony and co-chaired an inter-delegation meeting with Erdogan. He visited the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) for a briefing on Turkey's domestic KAAN fighter jet and inspected the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft involved in the deal.

On regional issues, Erdogan congratulated the United Kingdom on its decision to recognize the state of Palestine, calling it a "bold step towards a two-state solution."

Regarding the ceasefire in Gaza, he said: "It is our collective responsibility to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza; the Israeli government must exercise restraint."


Video