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Türkiye and the United Kingdom signed a joint memorandum of understanding Wednesday for the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, marking significant progress in a long-sought defense deal worth billions of dollars.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Defense Minister Yasar Guler and UK Defense Secretary John Healey at the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul, according to a statement from Türkiye's Defense Ministry.
"Defense Ministers today signed a joint memorandum of understanding. This document formalizes the relationship between countries and brings us one step closer to a comprehensive agreement on the Typhoon," the ministry statement said.
"Both Ministers welcome this signature as a positive step towards Türkiye's participation in the Typhoon community and share a common goal of finalizing the necessary arrangements as soon as possible."
Defense Minister Yasar Guler emphasized that Türkiye's acceptance as a Eurofighter Typhoon user would strengthen NATO's overall air power while deepening bilateral defense cooperation with the U.K.
"I believe that our country's acceptance as a Eurofighter Typhoon user will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between our countries, which are key allies of NATO, and that increasing our country's air capabilities will increase NATO's air power, strengthen cooperation regarding our capabilities, and mark the beginning of a new era that will support the defense industries of both countries through mutual procurement of world-leading equipment," Guler said following the signing ceremony.
The Turkish defense minister expressed satisfaction with the positive step toward Türkiye's participation in the Typhoon community and reiterated their joint determination to finalize necessary arrangements as soon as possible.
"The memorandum of understanding we signed in this context brings us one step closer to a comprehensive agreement on the Eurofighter Typhoon," Guler stated.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held during IDEF 2025 at the Istanbul Fair Center, Guler said he was delighted to host his British counterpart in Türkiye and noted the deep historical ties and strong relations between the two countries.
The minister highlighted that both countries had reaffirmed their strategic partnership and emphasized the importance of their long-standing defense cooperation, including through NATO, as well as their growing ties in defense industry and security fields.
The signing comes as Germany cleared the way for delivering 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye following a positive decision by the federal security council, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Wednesday.
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Türkiye has been seeking to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, which requires unanimous approval from all four manufacturing partners: the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. The jets are built by a consortium represented by companies Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
The U.K. has expressed support for the deal, while Germany had long been seen as the main obstacle until signaling a policy shift in November 2024. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently indicated positive momentum toward authorizing the sale.
Wednesday's memorandum followed a phone call between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during which they "reviewed the progress made regarding the procurement of Eurofighter jets," according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.
Erdogan has previously stated that Germany and Britain have taken a positive stance on the sale. "The British and Germans are approaching this positively. God willing, I believe we will receive our jet planes as soon as possible," he told reporters recently.
In the joint statement, both defense ministers emphasized the importance of their countries' long-standing defense cooperation and commitment to deepening their strategic partnership to support NATO's collective deterrence.
"Türkiye's acceptance as a Typhoon user will further strengthen the bonds of friendship that have developed over decades between NATO's key allies and will be an important step on Türkiye's path to enhancing its advanced fighter air capabilities," the statement said.
The ministers described the development as marking "the beginning of a new era" in U.K.-Türkiye partnership, strengthening capability cooperation and supporting both countries' defense industries through mutual procurement of world-leading equipment.
The memorandum signing occurred during IDEF 2025, Türkiye's premier defense industry exhibition, which President Erdogan framed as a symbol of the country's growing independence in the global arms industry.
The six-day exhibition spans four venues in Istanbul and showcases armored vehicles, unmanned platforms, weapon systems and military simulation technologies, with major signing ceremonies expected as global delegations attend.
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