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The UK has signed an £8 billion ($10.7 billion) agreement to sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey. The deal was dubbed as a powerful signal of NATO's unity and strength by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The contract, agreed during Starmer's visit to Ankara on Monday, marks the first new order for BAE Systems-made Typhoons since 2017. It is Britain's largest fighter jet sale in almost two decades and Turkey's first purchase of combat aircraft from a country other than the United States. "This is a really important signal of European and NATO strength," Starmer told Bloomberg on his way to the Turkish capital. "Turkey is vital for the southeastern flank of NATO and therefore for Putin it sends a strong message that NATO is stronger than ever." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the agreement as a "new milestone" in relations between the two NATO allies. "I see the Eurofighter agreement as a new milestone in our strategic relations as two close allies," he said at the signing ceremony. Turkey also plans to acquire 12 used Eurofighter jets from Qatar and another 12 from Oman, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Bloomberg at the event. The deal shows growing cooperation between the UK and Turkey at a time when the US, under President Donald Trump, has signalled a reduced role in European security. For Turkey, it is an opportunity to bolster its air power and reduce reliance on American suppliers following its exclusion from Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet programme. Relations between Washington and Ankara have been strained in recent years, particularly after Turkey purchased a Russian air-defence system, resulting in US congressional sanctions. The agreement is part of a wider effort by Starmer's government to increase British defence exports and stimulate economic growth. In August, the UK signed a £10 billion deal to supply Type 26 frigates to the Norwegian navy. What Does the Deal Mean for Russia The Typhoon contract is also being viewed as a way to strengthen diplomatic ties with Ankara, which has maintained dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite being a NATO member. "The signal for Putin is that this is Turkey reinforcing its commitment to NATO," UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Bloomberg in Ankara. "This is more than a deal about planes. This is about partnership as well as planes, and it signals a deepening and strengthening of the UK-Turkey relationship." Also Read: How Turkey's Ties to Hamas, Once a Liability in US, Have Turned Into a Geopolitical Asset The deal comes as Turkey faces delays in the delivery of US-made F-16 jets and continues work on developing its own domestically produced Kaan fighter aircraft. The country has also become a major global exporter of drones. To finalise the sale, the UK had to overcome opposition from Germany, which is one of four Eurofighter programme partners alongside Britain, Italy and Spain. Germany's previous coalition government had blocked Turkish orders over human rights concerns but lifted its veto earlier this year following lobbying from British ministers and officials. Healey said he had spoken with his Turkish counterpart more than 20 times in recent months to secure the agreement. The British government said the deal would support up to 20,000 jobs in northwest England over the next decade. "You're seeing a pattern here," Starmer said, referring to the UK's growing list of defence export deals, which also includes a recent cooperation pact with Germany. "You're seeing more and more countries wanting to work with the UK in terms of the provision of capability but also strategically to align."
