UK and Turkey Strengthen Security and Trade Ties Amid Rising Global Challenges

Strategic Insights -

The UK and Turkey are reinforcing their bilateral relationship, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy visiting Ankara to advance shared priorities, including joint work on regional security, trade, and defence ties. The visit comes as the UK and Turkey begin negotiations over a new free trade agreement, aimed at boosting trade between the two nations and delivering economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK and Turkey will strengthen their security cooperation, including joint work on the prospective export of Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey, to tackle global challenges such as terrorism, serious organized crime, and irregular migration.
  • The UK-Turkey trade relationship is worth almost £28 billion and supports tens of thousands of UK jobs, with the Foreign Secretary aiming to unlock more opportunities for British and Turkish businesses through a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • The visit is part of the UK's Plan for Change, which aims to stimulate UK economic growth and deliver stability in the Middle East, with the Foreign Secretary meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine following Russia's illegal invasion.
  • The UK's deep security and trade links with Turkey will be further strengthened, with the Foreign Secretary meeting with Country President Simon Ward from aerospace company Airbus to mark a recent deal between Airbus and Turkish cargo airline MNG Airlines for commercial aircraft containing British-made Rolls-Royce engines.
  • The UK and Turkey are close NATO allies and are working together to push for diplomatic solutions and an end to ongoing violence that threatens regional and global security.
  • The UK government has emphasized that welcoming Turkey as a Typhoon operator will build on the bonds of friendship developed over many decades between key NATO Allies.

Statistics:

  • UK-Turkey trade was worth almost £28 billion in 2024 (David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary).
  • Tens of thousands of UK jobs are indirectly supported by UK-Turkey trade (David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary).
  • The UK government aims to stimulate UK economic growth through the strengthening of the UK-Turkey trading relationship (Plan for Change, UK Government).
  • The UK's National Security Strategy has emphasized the importance of security and defence collaboration with Turkey, including joint work on the prospective export of Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey (National Security Strategy, UK Government).

Sources:

  • "London: UK Government" (June 30)

Note: The source text does not contain a specific date for the trade figures and plan for change, only the mentioned date for David Lammy's visit. As such, I have avoided adding a date to these sections, conserving the original data as presented.