British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to arrive in Ankara today for his first official visit to Turkey to finalize a deal for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets worth billions of dollars, "Türkiye Today" reported, quoted by BTA.
Citing multiple sources, the "Middle East Eye" reported yesterday that Turkey and the United Kingdom are ready to conclude the long-negotiated deal during Starmer's visit. Two "Eurofighter Typhoon" fighters have been sent to Ankara ahead of the trip, a Turkish source said, although it remains unclear whether the planes will remain in Turkey or be deployed symbolically.
A source familiar with the talks said that under the draft agreement, 20 of the 40 aircraft would be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to ensure faster delivery, while the remaining 20 would later be customised to Turkish specifications.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reported to have postponed a cabinet meeting to accommodate Starmer's visit. The trip coincides with a planned visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Turkey on October 30 for talks on bilateral relations and international affairs.
Meanwhile, negotiations to sell the 40 fighter jets to Turkey are in their final stages after Germany withdrew its long-standing objections, Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Schollhorn told Anadolu Agency.
Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding on July 23, allowing Ankara to use the “Eurofighter“. The agreement followed the approval of Germany's Security Council for the export of 40 aircraft.
According to Turkish media NTV and Aksam, the final deal for the “Eurofighter“ is expected to be concluded during Starmer's upcoming visit.
The visit comes after Erdogan's tour of three Gulf states this week, “Türkiye Today” notes. Speaking to journalists on board the return flight from Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, Erdogan revealed that Turkey is in talks with the two Gulf states about potential purchases of “Eurofighter“.