British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has commended Türkiye’s pivotal regional role during a press conference in Ankara following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Lammy on Monday underscored the close diplomatic relationship between the UK and Türkiye, built on frequent dialogue, strategic alignment, and deep cultural connections.
"In those 12 months in office, there has not been one month in which I have not met or spoken, often more than once, with Minister Hakan Fidan," he said, highlighting the strength and frequency of UK-Türkiye engagement.
Lammy pointed to the estimated five million UK nationals expected to travel to Türkiye this year and the presence of Turkish-speaking communities in the UK as evidence of enduring people-to-people ties.
He emphasised ongoing negotiations for a new Free Trade Agreement, building on £28 billion ($38.4 billion) in annual trade.
“Having Turkish industry and business working in partnership, often located in the United Kingdom, is a testament to that strong business relationship,” he added.
Türkiye's role in Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria
Lammy praised Türkiye’s efforts to mediate peace and counter Russian aggression in Ukraine, noting Ankara's work to stabilise the Black Sea region and pursue a long-sought ceasefire.
“I have been hugely grateful to the work that Türkiye has done to try and broker a peace… and to end the tremendous loss of life,” he said, citing the ongoing toll on Ukrainian civilians and the Russian military.
On Gaza, Lammy stressed both countries' shared concern over the humanitarian crisis and reiterated a firm commitment to a two-state solution. He also confirmed Syria was a topic of discussion, affirming the UK's appreciation for Türkiye’s cooperation on regional security.
“We have such a close working relationship, and I think you're going to see in the coming months more joint working between the United Kingdom and Türkiye at this very tough, challenging geopolitical moment,” he said.
