- Foreign Secretary will meet
Turkey’s Foreign and Defence Ministers and visit Turkey’s crisis
response centre to hear how UK aid is supporting Turkey to
recover from February’s devastating earthquakes.
- He will hold high-level talks aimed
at enhancing trade, protecting regional security and cooperating
to tackle the shared security challenges of counter terrorism,
serious organised crime and illegal migration.
-
will become the most
senior UK Minister to visit Turkey since the formation of the
new Turkish government in May.
The UK is committed to enhancing its trade and security
cooperation with Turkey, as Foreign Secretary will emphasise to his
counterparts in the Turkish government during a visit to Ankara
today (Wednesday 13 September).
Strengthening this strategic partnership is vital to overcoming
the biggest international challenges the two countries face.
The Foreign Secretary will be the most senior UK Minister to
visit the country since the formation of a new Turkish government
in May. He will meet Foreign Minister Fidan, to discuss the
UK-Turkey partnership and ongoing areas of cooperation to tackle
a range of global challenges.
As NATO allies, Cleverly will welcome Turkey’s commitment to
enhance regional security, and the steps it has taken to
strengthen the Alliance. He will commend Turkey’s efforts to
encourage Russia to re-join the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and
discuss the wider impacts of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary,
said:
“The UK and Turkey are strategic partners, working together
to confront the most important international issues we both
face.
“Our close cooperation on a range of issues is crucial to
growing our trading relationship, tackling shared security
priorities and strengthening regional stability at a time when it
faces unprecedented challenge.”
The UK contributed £40million in aid and assistance to help
rebuild the livelihoods of those devastated by widespread
earthquakes in February. The Foreign Secretary will see
first-hand how that aid is helping communities to recover as he
visits Turkey’s earthquake crisis response centre.
