British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Türkiye’s signing of a deal on Monday to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from the UK "a win for NATO security."
“This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for our defense industry and a win for NATO security," Starmer said, according to a statement by the UK government, The Caspian Post reports citing Anadolu agency.
The deal will deepen and strengthen NATO’s security while also enhancing bilateral defense industry cooperation, he said at a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"At either end of Europe, the UK and Türkiye are vital to tackling the challenges of our time, and this will allow our armed forces to work even closer together as we deter threats and protect our national interests," added Starmer.
According to the UK government, Defense Secretary John Healey, who accompanied Starmer to Ankara, said: “Türkiye is an important NATO ally and the gatekeeper to the Black Sea.”
"By equipping them with top-of-the-range Typhoon fighter jets, this deal will strengthen NATO deterrence and help make us all safer."
The UK government called the agreement "the biggest fighter jet export deal in a generation."
It said the deal will help sustain a 20,000-strong UK workforce with production lines in Edinburgh, Warton, Samlesbury and Bristol.
Starmer said that with a new and modern free trade agreement, they will be able to act jointly on security and the fight against terrorism as well as on migration, energy and many other issues.
The UK views Türkiye as a country of increasing economic and strategic importance, he stressed.
He added that today, they are launching the first-ever UK-Türkiye bilateral cooperation framework, emphasizing that this is a "landmark moment reflecting the increasing depth and breadth of our existing cooperation and our ambition to go further."
The UK and Türkiye, as NATO allies, are working together for the common security of Europe and are supporting Ukraine as part of the Coalition of the Willing, Starmer highlighted.
Regarding Gaza, he said: "I pay tribute to the role" that President Erdogan has played in securing the first phase of the peace plan.
"We are now working together to implement that deal as fast as possible to put the region onto a better path," he noted.
Starmer also said they decided to start work on the relaunch of the Turkish-British Tatlidil Forum, which first met in 2011 with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations.
This would create a dialogue not only between the two countries, but also between businesspeople, parliamentarians, academics and scientists, he underscored, "bringing together the rich science and innovation in both of our nations to forge new links and opportunities for collaboration.”
"It is another unmistakable sign of our commitment and our intent," he added.
Starmer said he would be happy to be back in Ankara again for the NATO Summit scheduled to be held in the Turkish capital on July 7-8, 2026.
The statements came as part of Starmer's visit to Türkiye, during which he earlier held a one-on-one meeting with President Erdogan and co-chaired an inter-delegation meeting.
