Shortly after 16:30 local time, his prime minister United Kingdom, Keir Starmerpassed the gate of the presidential palace in Anchor. He was welcomed by Turk chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoganwith mounted military cavalcade and cannonade.

At the center of the talks is, of course, the agreement for the sale of Eurofighter fighters in Turkey. According to the English-language news site Middle East EyeStarmer sent two Eurofighters to Ankara before his arrival. It has not been clarified whether the aircraft will remain in Turkey or whether this is a symbolic move on the part of the British Prime Minister.

Sources say that Ankara’s plan to strengthen the Turkish Air Force foresees a mixture 40 Eurofighter, 40 F35 and 40 Turkish-made KAAN.

During his recent tour of the Gulf countries, Recep Tayyip Erdogan intended to raise the issue of buying used Eurofighter Typhoon fighters from Qatar and Oman. According to Reuters, citing an unnamed source, Turkey is close to an agreement to purchase 12 Eurofighters from the two countries. The sale of used aircraft requires the approval of the Eurofighter consortium, which includes the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.

As of July 23, Turkey has already signed a memorandum with the United Kingdom for the Eurofighter purchase. London has been a key supporter of Turkey in trying to lift German objections to the sale of the fighters.

The head of the Turkish presidency’s Communication Directorate, Burhanettin Duran, said that the strategic relations of the two countries, which are based on a close alliance, as well as current regional and international developments, will be discussed at the meeting. Also on the agenda are developments in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, expanding defense cooperation and bilateral trade.

Keir Starmer is accompanied in Ankara by UK Defense Secretary John Healy and the Chief of the Royal Air Force, Wing-General Harv Smith.