Ankara, October 28, 2025 – In a significant boost to defense and economic ties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a cooperation agreement on Monday for the acquisition and potential joint production of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. The deal, inked during Starmer’s official visit to Ankara, marks a pivotal moment in Türkiye-UK strategic relations and underscores deepening collaboration within NATO’s defense architecture.
The agreement was formalized at the Presidential Complex following a high-level inter-delegation meeting co-chaired by the two leaders. President Erdogan hailed the pact as “a new sign of Türkiye-UK strategic relations,” emphasizing its role in paving the way for future joint defense projects. “I thank Prime Minister Starmer and his team for the work carried out by the UK within the Eurofighter Consortium throughout the process,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference. “I also express my appreciation to the leaders of other allied countries in the consortium for their constructive approach.”
Prime Minister Starmer, on his first official visit to Türkiye since taking office, described the agreement as a multifaceted win. “This will bolster security across NATO, deepen our bilateral defense cooperation, and boost economic growth here and in the United Kingdom, securing 20,000 British jobs building these state-of-the-art fighter jets,” he stated. The deal is expected to enhance interoperability between the Turkish Air Force and NATO allies while stimulating industrial growth on both sides of the partnership.
Details of the Eurofighter Acquisition
Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler provided specifics on the procurement plan following the bilateral talks. Türkiye intends to acquire a total of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from multiple consortium partners, including 20 jets from the United Kingdom, 12 from Qatar, and an additional 12 from Oman. Guler told reporters that deliveries from Qatar could commence as early as next year, accelerating Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air fleet amid evolving regional security challenges.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, a twin-engine, multirole fighter developed by a consortium comprising the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, is renowned for its advanced avionics, supercruise capability, and versatility in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. For Türkiye, the acquisition represents a critical step in diversifying its fighter jet inventory, particularly as negotiations for alternative platforms have faced geopolitical hurdles in recent years.
Minister Guler’s announcement underscores Türkiye’s strategic intent to balance its defense procurements across multiple international partners. The inclusion of Qatar and Oman—both Gulf states with growing defense ties to Ankara—highlights Türkiye’s expanding influence in the Middle East and its ability to leverage regional alliances for military modernization.
Launch of Historic Bilateral Cooperation Framework
Beyond defense, the leaders unveiled the first-ever UK-Türkiye Bilateral Cooperation Framework, a comprehensive roadmap designed to elevate ties across economic, technological, and cultural domains. Prime Minister Starmer called it “a landmark moment reflecting the increasing depth and breadth of our existing cooperation and our ambition to go further.”
President Erdogan echoed this sentiment, outlining ambitious trade targets. “We are committed to increasing our trade volume with the United Kingdom, initially to $30 billion and eventually to $40 billion,” he declared. “We are determined to strengthen our economic ties.” Current bilateral trade stands at approximately $20 billion annually, with key sectors including automotive, textiles, machinery, and defense exports.
To achieve these goals, Türkiye is prioritizing updates to its post-Brexit Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK, which entered into force in 2021. Negotiations are underway to expand the agreement’s scope, particularly in services, digital trade, and investment protection. Erdogan also highlighted opportunities for joint investments in third countries, especially in Africa and Central Asia, where both nations seek to expand their economic footprints.
Energy and defense emerged as priority areas for new partnerships. Türkiye, a key transit hub for natural gas and renewable energy projects, aims to collaborate with British firms on offshore wind, hydrogen, and critical minerals supply chains. In defense, beyond the Typhoon deal, discussions are exploring co-development of unmanned systems and missile technologies.
Erdogan noted the cultural dimension of the relationship, stating that “many UK citizens consider Türkiye their second home.” Over one million British tourists visit Türkiye annually, and thousands of Britons own property along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. This people-to-people connection, he argued, provides a strong foundation for broader cooperation.
Starmer’s Engagements in Ankara
Prime Minister Starmer’s itinerary reflected the multifaceted nature of the visit. Upon arrival, he was accorded a full official ceremony at the Presidential Complex, complete with a 21-gun salute and guard of honor. The inter-delegation meeting covered a wide agenda, from defense industrialization to climate action.
A highlight was Starmer’s tour of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) in Ankara. There, he received a detailed briefing on Türkiye’s fifth-generation national combat aircraft, the KAAN, which is slated to make its maiden flight in 2026 and enter service by the end of the decade. The KAAN project, entirely designed and developed by Turkish engineers, aims to reduce Türkiye’s dependence on foreign fighter jets and position the country as a global aerospace player.
Starmer also inspected a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft earmarked for the deal, symbolizing the tangible progress in defense collaboration. TUSAS officials showcased integration plans for Turkish-made subsystems—such as mission computers, electronic warfare suites, and munitions—into the Typhoon platform, potentially opening avenues for technology transfer and joint production in the future.
Regional Issues: Gaza and Palestine
The press conference also addressed pressing regional concerns. President Erdogan congratulated the United Kingdom on its recent decision to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it “a bold step toward a two-state solution.” The UK’s move, announced earlier this year, aligns London with over 140 UN member states in supporting Palestinian statehood based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On the ongoing situation in Gaza, Erdogan stressed the urgency of upholding the fragile ceasefire brokered last year. “It is our collective responsibility to uphold the Gaza ceasefire; the Israeli government must be restrained,” he asserted. Reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave remain stalled, with Türkiye pledging over $500 million in humanitarian aid and medical support since the conflict’s escalation.
Prime Minister Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution and called for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. Both leaders agreed to coordinate diplomatic efforts within the UN and other multilateral forums to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
Broader Implications
The Türkiye-UK deal arrives at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments. Türkiye, a NATO member with the alliance’s second-largest military, has pursued a multifaceted foreign policy balancing relations with Western allies, Russia, and Middle Eastern partners. The Eurofighter agreement signals a thaw in defense relations with European consortium members, some of whom had previously imposed restrictions amid regional tensions.
For the UK, post-Brexit defense exports are a priority. The Typhoon deal not only secures jobs at BAE Systems and other British firms but also strengthens London’s strategic footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Analysts suggest the agreement could pave the way for deeper UK involvement in Türkiye’s burgeoning defense industry, valued at over $12 billion in annual exports.
Economically, the bilateral framework aligns with both nations’ growth strategies. Türkiye aims to reach $1 trillion in trade volume by 2028, while the UK seeks new markets outside the European Union. Joint investments in green energy and critical technologies could yield mutual benefits amid global supply chain disruptions.
Conclusion
Monday’s agreements in Ankara represent more than a transactional exchange; they embody a strategic realignment rooted in shared security interests, economic ambition, and diplomatic synergy. As President Erdogan and Prime Minister Starmer stood side by side, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the new cooperation framework symbolized a partnership poised to shape NATO’s southern flank and beyond.
With trade targets set, defense capabilities enhanced, and regional diplomacy aligned, Türkiye and the United Kingdom have laid a robust foundation for collaboration in an increasingly complex world. The coming years will test the implementation of these commitments, but the political will demonstrated in Ankara suggests a durable and dynamic alliance in the making.
