Turkey Seals Massive Eurofighter Deal with UK Amid Strengthening NATO Ties
In a significant move to bolster its air defenses, Turkey has signed a $11 billion agreement with the United Kingdom to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The deal was sealed during a meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday.
The UK Ministry of Defence described the move as the "biggest fighter jet deal in a generation," praising it as a major boost for NATO, to which both countries belong. Erdogan hailed the agreement as "a new symbol of the strategic relations" between the two close allies.
Under the deal, the first Typhoons are expected to arrive in Ankara in 2030. The UK's Prime Minister stated that securing the capability with the United Kingdom was crucial for NATO's southeastern flank, highlighting the importance of the partnership.
The agreement follows a preliminary deal signed by Turkey and the UK in July, which involved the delivery of 40 Typhoons to be followed by an additional 12 jets from Qatar and Oman. Turkish officials have stated that Ankara aims to acquire 120 fighter jets to bolster its fleet before its own fifth-generation KAAN fighter planes become operational.
The move comes as Turkey seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of regional rivals like Israel. Last year, Turkey confirmed a $7 billion deal with the US for 40 F-16s, an order that has been plagued by delays. Erdogan has also discussed re-entering the Washington-led F-35 fighter jet programme, which he was excluded from in 2019 due to his country's purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems.
The agreement coincides with Starmer's first visit to Turkey as Prime Minister, which came on the heels of new charges being brought against Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed mayor of Istanbul. Erdogan's main political rival vehemently denies any wrongdoing, claiming that the charges are politically motivated.
In a significant move to bolster its air defenses, Turkey has signed a $11 billion agreement with the United Kingdom to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The deal was sealed during a meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday.
The UK Ministry of Defence described the move as the "biggest fighter jet deal in a generation," praising it as a major boost for NATO, to which both countries belong. Erdogan hailed the agreement as "a new symbol of the strategic relations" between the two close allies.
Under the deal, the first Typhoons are expected to arrive in Ankara in 2030. The UK's Prime Minister stated that securing the capability with the United Kingdom was crucial for NATO's southeastern flank, highlighting the importance of the partnership.
The agreement follows a preliminary deal signed by Turkey and the UK in July, which involved the delivery of 40 Typhoons to be followed by an additional 12 jets from Qatar and Oman. Turkish officials have stated that Ankara aims to acquire 120 fighter jets to bolster its fleet before its own fifth-generation KAAN fighter planes become operational.
The move comes as Turkey seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of regional rivals like Israel. Last year, Turkey confirmed a $7 billion deal with the US for 40 F-16s, an order that has been plagued by delays. Erdogan has also discussed re-entering the Washington-led F-35 fighter jet programme, which he was excluded from in 2019 due to his country's purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems.
The agreement coincides with Starmer's first visit to Turkey as Prime Minister, which came on the heels of new charges being brought against Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed mayor of Istanbul. Erdogan's main political rival vehemently denies any wrongdoing, claiming that the charges are politically motivated.