Dr. Sinem Cengiz

The defense cooperation agreement signed last week between Turkiye and the UK marks the latest step in a growing relationship, reflecting how Ankara and London are drawing closer as their strategic interests increasingly align.

The Turkiye-UK Defense Industry Cooperation Council Charter was officially signed by the two countries, formalizing and institutionalizing their collaboration in the defense sector. This agreement marks the beginning of a new phase in strategic cooperation between Ankara and London. Citing a “changing global security environment” and “common threats,” these two NATO allies highlighted the importance of deepening their ties in the defense sphere.

In 2023, the Turkish and British defense ministers signed a statement of intent on defense cooperation, which included plans for joint training exercises and enhanced security collaboration. Another clear sign of the deepening defense ties between the two countries is the negotiations over a potential sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkiye — a deal reportedly valued at nearly $10 billion.

When Keir Starmer assumed office as prime minister last summer, there were concerns that Turkiye-UK ties might lose the momentum they had gained over the past decade, particularly with the shift to a Labour government. However, contrary to these concerns, Starmer gets along well with Turkiye’s leadership. He was even criticized by the leader of Turkiye’s largest opposition party,........

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