Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke over a phone call and discussed steps to improve Türkiye-UK relations, especially in the areas of trade and defence. 

Erdogan stated that he believes common sense and a strategic perspective will continue to guide relations between the two NATO allies, the Turkish Communications Directorate said in a statement on Friday. 

Erdogan and Sunak also exchanged views on regional issues.

The Turkish president emphasised that it is in the interest of all parties to quickly re-establish the grounds for negotiation between Russia and Ukraine. 

According to the statement, Erdogan also pointed to the importance of taking new, concrete steps to solve the Cyprus issue. 

Türkiye, Britain and Greece are the three guarantor countries for the long-divided island of Cyprus, made up of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration.

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