The "Panel on Türkiye-UK Relations," organised by our Directorate, was held at the residence of the Embassy of Türkiye in London.
Chief Advisor to the President Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Ambassador of Türkiye to the UK Osman Koray Ertaş, Deputy Director of Communications Assoc Prof Çağatay Özdemir, as well as many guests, attended the panel.
Speaking at the opening of the panel at the residence of the Embassy of Türkiye in London, Ambassador Ertaş said that it has been about four centuries since the first UK ambassador was sent to the Ottoman Empire and about 230 years since the first Turkish ambassador was sent to London.
Noting that this demonstrates the depth of relations between the two countries, Ertaş said: "Although times have passed and the global landscape has evolved, the strategic significance of these relations remains intact, not only for our countries but also on a wider scale beyond our borders.
Ertaş also emphasised the significance of NATO members Türkiye and the UK as major powers on both ends of Europe.
Identifying trade, tourism, investment, energy, defence industry, and security as the key areas in Türkiye-UK relations, Ertaş said: "We are actively seeking opportunities to strengthen and diversify our bilateral relations across all potential areas. This political will exists at the government level in both countries."
Furthermore, Ertaş pointed out how bilateral relations in green transformation and artificial intelligence hold enormous potential.
A video message from the Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun was also played at the outset of the panel.
The panel discussion moderated by Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Research Director at the SETA Foundation in Washington DC, featured panellists Tim Reid, Chief Executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF), Victoria Billing, Director for Europe at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, Ilaria Regondi, Chief Negotiator for the Türkiye-UK Free Trade Agreement, and Hasan Turunç, London Representative of the Turkish Industrialists and Business Association (TÜSİAD).
