Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has had an opportunity to hold face-to-face meetings with a number of world leaders at the 75th anniversary NATO Heads of State Summit last week, among them President Erdoğan of Turkiye.
The two men met on Thursday 11 July – the final day of the three-day summit in Washington – where they discussed deepening the bilateral relationship.
The Prime Minister “welcomed the deep ties between the two countries”, whilst also highlighting “the significant contribution that Turkish communities provide to the culture and economy of the UK”.
Sir Keir also underlined the importance of Turkiye in NATO, and that he wanted the UK to expand its ties with its long-standing ally.
President Erdoğan started by congratulating Sir Keir on his election victory, before echoing the British leader’s sentiments on strengthening the bilateral relationship.
The Turkish leader expressed his desire for increased trade and tourism, and for the two countries to co-ordinate more on defence, counter-terrorism, energy and the economy.
They also discussed the invasion of Ukraine, with both leaders welcoming the enhanced support agreed at the NATO Summit.
On the conflict in Gaza, the British Prime Minister told President Erdoğan that he wanted to see an immediate ceasefire, so that the remaining hostages could be freed, while allowing far more vital aid to enter Gaza.
Also in attendance at the meeting were the two countries’ foreign and defence ministers, David Lammy and John Healey for Britain, and Hakan Fidan and Yaşar Güler for Turkiye.
