UK and Turkey ink $11 bn Eurofighter jet deal; Starmer, Erdogan hail landmark pact

Britain and Turkey on Monday signed what both sides hailed as a landmark 10-year defence agreement for the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets worth nearly $11 billion, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan describing it as “a new symbol of the strategic relations” between the two countries.

According to AFP, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced the deal after talks with Erdogan in Ankara on Monday, called it “a really significant deal,” saying it would support 20,000 British jobs and mark the “biggest fighter jet deal in a generation.”

“This is a really significant deal, because it’s £8 billion ($10.7 billion) worth of orders… these are jobs that will last for 10 years, making the (Eurofighter) Typhoons, so really big for our country,” AFP quoted Starmer as saying.

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Britain’s defence ministry said the agreement, which includes the option for Turkey to purchase additional aircraft in the future, would strengthen Ankara’s combat capabilities and bolster Nato’s southern flank.

“The UK will provide Turkey with 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, with the option to provide more in the future,” Starmer said after signing the agreement.

“The deal will bolster security across Nato, deepen our bilateral defence cooperation, and boost economic growth here and in the United Kingdom, securing 20,000 British jobs, building these state-of-the-art fighter jets,” he added.

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“I am proud that British Typhoons will form a vital part of the Turkish air force for many years to come, as you defend NATO’s south-eastern flank for the good of all.”

Erdogan praised the Eurofighter deal as “a new symbol of the strategic relations” and thanked other members of the Eurofighter consortium — Germany, Italy, and Spain — for their “constructive approach.”

The agreement comes as Ankara moves to modernise its air force, following its expulsion from the US F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 missile systems. Negotiations over the Eurofighter sale accelerated after Germany lifted its veto earlier this year.

Starmer, accompanied by Defence Minister John Healey and Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, was received by senior Turkish officials in Ankara.

However, the high-profile visit was overshadowed by a spying scandal in Turkey, where Istanbul’s jailed opposition mayor was charged with espionage over alleged links to a businessman accused of spying for Britain. Neither government commented on the matter.

Turkish security sources told AFP that two Eurofighter jets are already in Turkey, with discussions ongoing for potential future orders. The deal marks a significant deepening of UK-Turkey defence cooperation amid shifting regional dynamics within Nato.

Qatari leader’s visit

Last week, Erdogan held talks in Doha with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with Turkey floating plans to acquire some of its Eurofighters.

Qatar ordered 24 Eurofighters in 2017, with the last two due to be delivered this year. It moved to acquire 12 more late last year, observers said.

Any such move would likely be part of the deal with London, which would have to grant its approval for a transfer, analysts said.

The Qatari leader is in Ankara on Tuesday for talks to clarify certain outstanding issues, the Turkish official said.

The two Eurofighter jets delivered to Turkey on Monday were likely to be those that had been destined for Qatar, Stein said.

Instead of being sent to Doha, “they’ll simply be shipped to Turkey,” he explained.

Gaza’s future was also likely to feature in talks between Erdogan and Starmer, with Turkey keen to join an international stabilisation force – an idea opposed by Israel.

With inputs from agencies