UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid a crucial visit to Ankara on October 27, 2025, for high-level talks. The most significant outcome of the visit was the signing of an agreement between the two countries for the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, valued at approximately £8 billion.
Following his meetings, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that the signed deal would secure around 20,000 British jobs and represents the largest fighter jet export agreement for the United Kingdom in the past two decades. The deal is regarded as a reflection of the growing strength of defense industry and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Defense Summit and Visit to TUSAŞ
Accompanied by Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Prime Minister Starmer and his delegation first attended a welcoming ceremony at Mürted Air Base Command. In recognition of the importance of the visit, three Eurofighter aircraft from the Royal Air Force were also present at the base. After the ceremony, Minister Güler and Prime Minister Starmer inspected the aircraft and met with military personnel. The delegation also included UK Defense Secretary John Healey, Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, and Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff General Harv Smyth.
Continuing his program in Ankara, Prime Minister Starmer visited the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), where he received a comprehensive briefing on Türkiye’s indigenous fighter jet, KAAN.
During a meeting with TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, Starmer was given an in-depth overview of the company’s engineering capabilities, ongoing projects, and the air platforms under development. The discussions also covered potential opportunities to further strengthen existing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of aviation and defense industries.
Before beginning his official meetings, Prime Minister Starmer visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, following the welcoming ceremony at Mürted Air Base, where he laid a wreath at the tomb.
