Turkey ready to begin negotiations for free trade agreement with Britain
Other important topics to be discussed included joint efforts to expand defence industry cooperation, as both countries were long-standing partners in this field, particularly in aviation.
ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will reiterate Ankara's willingness to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement with Britain during his official visit to London on Wednesday.
This was Fidan's first visit to the country since the Labour Party took power following the general election in July.
He was scheduled to meet with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other officials.
It is understood that Turkey and Britain have established a strategic partnership since 2007 and this relationship has become increasingly important since Brexit, when London left the European Union (EU) in 2020.
According to a report by Hurriyet Daily News citing close sources, Fidan will also express satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations across all domains, including economic cooperation and defence industry collaboration.
Previously, Ankara had agreed to negotiate trade matters with the previous government, but discussions were postponed due to early elections that saw the Conservative Party being defeated by the opposition.
Despite the initial plans being delayed, the current Labour-led government was ready to expand the scope of the free trade agreement with Turkey.
Bilateral trade value recently reached USD$20 billion (RM88 billion) and both allies aimed to increase this figure to USD$30 billion (RM130.8 billion) over the next few years.
In addition to existing cooperation, Fidan will also highlight the importance of investments in new sectors, including energy and transportation.
The Turkey-Britain dialogue will also encompass digital and green transformation, as Ankara was one of the 28 countries participating in the AI Technology Security Summit in London in November 2023.
Other important topics to be discussed included joint efforts to expand defence industry cooperation, as both countries were long-standing partners in this field, particularly in aviation.
One current issue that will be on the negotiation table was Turkey's intention to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets from a coalition led by Britain, which included Germany, Spain and Italy.
Previously, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had given the green light and close sources believed that the sale of Eurofighter jets was expected to increase as Fidan and Lammy were scheduled to discuss how the process will be implemented in the coming months.
Ankara and London will also address the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Fidan, representing the government, will reiterate a firm statement that Turkey did not want a broader war to erupt in the region while exchanging views on peace negotiation efforts to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza using a two-state solution framework.
