The Strengthening of Anglo-Turkish Security Relations: The Eurofighter Typhoon Deal

The recent Memorandum of Understanding between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler on the Eurofighter Typhoon marks more than just another arms deal. It reflects a subtle but significant recalibration of relations between Ankara and its Western allies, particularly London. For Türkiye, the agreement comes at a crucial time. Its exclusion from the F-35 program not only bruised national pride but created a capability gap as regional rivals such as Greece moved ahead with advanced aircraft. The Eurofighter deal helps close that gap and underscores the importance of Türkiye’s role within NATO. What makes this moment notable is not simply Ankara’s need for aircraft, but the political backdrop against which the deal has been revived. For years, German objections had left the matter in limbo, reflecting broader European scepticism about Türkiye’s strategic direction. That Berlin has now stepped back signals a shift in thinking, one likely influenced by the war in Ukraine and the growing recognition that Europe cannot afford to sideline its second-largest NATO army. Britain, for its part, has been a consistent advocate for Türkiye, even during the turbulence of the F-35 expulsion, and now reaps the benefits of that long-term approach. For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the deal also carries a domestic dividend, safeguarding tens of thousands of defence jobs and positioning Britain as a key player in European security policy. At the same time, Türkiye is no longer merely a consumer of Western defence technology. Its burgeoning defence industry has grown into a serious force, with the Bayraktar drones reshaping modern warfare and its homegrown fifth-generation fighter, the KAAN, expected to be operational by 2028. This dual track, engaging with Western suppliers while accelerating domestic production, gives Ankara both flexibility and leverage. It is a reminder that while Türkiye welcomes Western cooperation, it is determined not to be dependent on it. Seen in this light, the Eurofighter deal is best understood not in isolation but as part of a broader repositioning. For Ankara, it restores some of the lost ground from the F-35 fallout and strengthens its hand in ongoing discussions with Washington. For the UK and Europe, it represents a recognition that defence cooperation with Türkiye is not optional but essential in an era of renewed great-power conflict. The deal will not erase longstanding frictions, yet it does illustrate a hardening consensus across Europe: that Türkiye, with its scale, geography, and growing technological edge, is too valuable a partner to keep at arm’s length.