Turkish Foreign Minister Calls for Expanded Trade Ties with UK

(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed strong approval of his country’s growing partnership with the United Kingdom on Monday, calling for an even deeper expansion of their trade relations.

Speaking at a press conference alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Turkey's capital, Fidan spotlighted the robust collaboration between the two nations in sectors including defense, technology, and the economy.

Fidan also commended the UK's supportive stance on several key international issues, particularly the ongoing crises in Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, and the broader Middle East. He notably welcomed Britain's recent move to ease certain sanctions on Syria.

"Ensuring ceasefires, particularly between Iran and Israel, and in Gaza, remains one of Türkiye's top strategic priorities," Fidan emphasized.

With trade between the two nations now approaching a significant 30 billion U.S. dollars annually, Fidan underscored the shared goal of further boosting economic relations.

British Foreign Secretary Lammy, for his part, reiterated the strength of the Türkiye-UK bond, hinting at the potential for a free trade agreement that could yield up to 28 billion pounds (approximately 38.36 billion U.S. dollars) in economic gains.

"We look forward to the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement in the coming weeks and months," Lammy stated.

Lammy also acknowledged Türkiye's active role in facilitating peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and emphasized both countries’ shared commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as advocating for a two-state solution for the Palestinian issue.

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