The Foreign Secretary will meet Turkey’s Foreign and Defence Ministers and visit Turkey’s crisis response centre to hear how UK aid is supporting Turkey to recover from February’s devastating earthquakes.
- Foreign Secretary will meet Turkey’s Foreign and Defence Ministers and visit Turkey’s crisis response centre to hear how UK aid is supporting Turkey to recover from February’s devastating earthquakes.
- He will hold high-level talks aimed at enhancing trade, protecting regional security and cooperating to tackle the shared security challenges of counter terrorism, serious organised crime and illegal migration.
- James Cleverly will become the most senior UK Minister to visit Turkey since the formation of the new Turkish government in May.
The UK is committed to enhancing its trade and security cooperation with Turkey, as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will emphasise to his counterparts in the Turkish government during a visit to Ankara today (Wednesday 13 September).
Strengthening this strategic partnership is vital to overcoming the biggest international challenges the two countries face.
The Foreign Secretary will be the most senior UK Minister to visit the country since the formation of a new Turkish government in May. He will meet Foreign Minister Fidan, to discuss the UK-Turkey partnership and ongoing areas of cooperation to tackle a range of global challenges.
As NATO allies, Cleverly will welcome Turkey’s commitment to enhance regional security, and the steps it has taken to strengthen the Alliance. He will commend Turkey’s efforts to encourage Russia to re-join the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and discuss the wider impacts of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly said:
The UK and Turkey are strategic partners, working together to confront the most important international issues we both face.
Our close cooperation on a range of issues is crucial to growing our trading relationship, tackling shared security priorities and strengthening regional stability at a time when it faces unprecedented challenge.
The UK contributed £40million in aid and assistance to help rebuild the livelihoods of those devastated by widespread earthquakes in February. The Foreign Secretary will see first-hand how that aid is helping communities to recover as he visits Turkey’s earthquake crisis response centre.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP
