On 18 December, a “Roundtable Meeting on the United Kingdom–Türkiye Defence Partnership” was held in London in cooperation with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a think tank, and the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.
Addressing the strategic dimensions of defence and security cooperation between the two NATO allies, the meeting brought together representatives of public institutions, RUSI experts, and members of the defence industry. The meeting served as a significant platform for further strengthening the institutional and strategic framework of the rapprochement between Türkiye and the United Kingdom (UK) amid an evolving global security landscape.
The opening remarks of the meeting were delivered by Prof Kılıç Buğra Kanat and Director-General of RUSI Rachel Ellehuus. The session, moderated by Hasan Turunç (PhD), featured speakers, including Head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) Ertaç Koca, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Mehmet Demiroğlu (PhD), General Manager of Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. (STM) Özgür Güleryüz, and General Manager at BMC Defence Mehmet Karaaslan (PhD). RUSI experts and representatives of the United Kingdom defence industry also participated in the meeting.
The roundtable meeting provided a comprehensive discussion of the defence industry cooperation between Türkiye and the UK, which has gained momentum in recent years. It was highlighted that relations shaped under the Statement of Intent signed in 2023 and the Defence Industry Cooperation Council have deepened through joint exercises, technology transfer, joint production, and capacity-building efforts.
Türkiye’s structural transformation in the defence industry over the past two decades was examined through the growth of domestic production capacity, improved export performance, and enhanced cooperation between the public and private sectors. The meeting underlined that the defence industry cooperation between Türkiye and the UK possesses a complementary character that can enhance not only bilateral relations but also address Europe’s increasing demand for defence capabilities. It was noted that, although neither country is a member of the EU, both are indispensable players in the European defence ecosystem, and that their bilateral and regional cooperation can meet on-the-ground demands more rapidly.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme and collaborations in unmanned aerial systems were assessed with respect to technology transfer, joint production, capacity building, and innovation. The role of these partnerships in strengthening NATO’s collective defence capabilities, with a particular focus on deterrence along the southern flank, was highlighted.
At the roundtable meeting, the presentations and insights by Turkish defence industry representatives drew strong interest, and the participants held a productive, two-way exchange of views on defence technologies, industrial ecosystems, and forward-looking joint projects. Participants stated that bringing academic perspectives together with hands-on industrial experience would make tangible contributions to cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting also discussed the future of European security, NATO’s central role, emerging EU-based defence initiatives, and perspectives on participation in mechanisms such as ReArm and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE). The importance of public diplomacy and strategic communication in securing wider support for defence cooperation within international public opinion was also underlined as a key topic.
The roundtable meeting was recognised as a significant step toward reinforcing the Türkiye–UK strategic partnership, deepening institutional dialogue, and shaping a shared vision for regional and global security.