Turkey purchases Eurofighter jets from UK
(MENAFN) Türkiye’s agreement to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the United Kingdom was hailed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “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 official statements.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Starmer emphasized that the new defense deal will not only boost NATO’s collective strength but also enhance defense cooperation between Ankara and London. He noted that “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.”
According to reports, UK Defense Secretary John Healey, who accompanied Starmer to Ankara, described Türkiye as “an important NATO ally and the gatekeeper to the Black Sea.” He added, “By equipping them with top-of-the-range Typhoon fighter jets, this deal will strengthen NATO deterrence and help make us all safer.”
Officials in London described the agreement as “the biggest fighter jet export deal in a generation,” noting that it would sustain around 20,000 defense industry jobs across several UK cities including Edinburgh, Warton, Samlesbury, and Bristol.
Starmer also highlighted the importance of deepening broader cooperation between the two nations. He said that a modernized free trade agreement would allow both countries to coordinate more effectively on key issues such as counterterrorism, migration, and energy.
He stressed that the UK sees Türkiye as a country of growing strategic and economic relevance.
The two governments, he said, are launching the first-ever bilateral cooperation framework — “a landmark moment reflecting the increasing depth and breadth of our existing cooperation and our ambition to go further.”
Starmer noted that both nations, as NATO partners, are united in supporting Europe’s collective defense and are working together to assist Ukraine under the Coalition of the Willing.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, he stated: “I pay tribute to the role that President Erdogan has played in securing the first phase of the peace plan.” He continued, “We are now working together to implement that deal as fast as possible to put the region onto a better path.”
The British leader also announced plans to revive the Turkish-British Tatlidil Forum, first convened in 2011 to strengthen bilateral dialogue. The renewed forum, he said, would foster collaboration among business leaders, lawmakers, academics, and scientists — “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 concluded by expressing his intention to return to Ankara for the NATO Summit set to take place in the Turkish capital on July 7–8, 2026.
His remarks came during his official visit to Türkiye, where he held bilateral talks with President Erdoğan and co-chaired a joint meeting between their respective delegations.
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