Jet-Setting Diplomacy: Starmer's Strategic Visit to Turkey

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to engage in high-stakes discussions regarding the pending sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey in an upcoming meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. This visit marks Starmer's inaugural trip to Turkey since assuming office last year and underscores the deepening defense cooperation between the NATO allies.

This meeting comes after revelations last week by Reuters, which cited sources indicating Ankara's proposals to quickly acquire advanced fighter jets from its European allies and the U.S. The country is keen on purchasing 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, alongside U.S. F-16s and F-35s, to augment its military capabilities. According to informed sources, a potential deal with Britain might allow Turkey to immediately obtain 12 used jets from Qatar and Oman, with an additional 28 new jets to follow in the coming years.

The preliminary purchase agreement, signed in July between Ankara and London, received endorsements from Eurofighter consortium members, including Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain. This agreement is a collaborative effort represented by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. Last week's visits by Erdogan to Qatar and Oman further signaled Turkey's commitment to finalizing these acquisitions. Apart from the jets' procurement, Erdogan and Starmer plan to discuss broader bilateral ties and address pressing regional and global issues.