Istanbul: A planned update to the free trade agreement between the UK and Trkiye would serve as "a great example" for modern trade deals, the British consul general in Istanbul told Anadolu. The first round of negotiations on the updated agreement concluded positively, covering areas such as goods trade and sustainability, said Kenan Poleo, who also serves as the UK's trade commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
According to Anadolu Agency, the next round of negotiations is expected later this year and will focus on developing a roadmap for expanded cooperation, particularly in services and innovation-driven sectors. Trade between the two countries currently exceeds £27 billion (approximately $36 billion), making Trkiye one of the UK's largest trading partners. The UK seeks to expand its global trade network post-Brexit, while Trkiye aims to diversify its economic partnerships amid shifting regional dynamics and supply chain realignments.
One of the most recent milestones in bilateral cooperation was the signing of a memorandum of understanding during last month's International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. The deal paves the way for Trkiye to become a Eurofighter Typhoon operator, a move Poleo described as a "great example" of UK-Trkiye collaboration as "strategic and defense partner." The Eurofighter is a multirole aircraft equipped with next-generation radar and enhanced air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities.
He also pointed to growing opportunities in offshore wind and next-generation nuclear power. The British envoy said the UK and Trkiye can achieve "world-beating" results by working together in offshore wind. Poleo also said there are opportunities for the two nations to collaborate on developing a regulatory framework that would allow Trkiye to explore more novel and innovative forms of nuclear power. As Trkiye aims to install 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035 and advances its first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, the UK sees an opportunity to support these ambitions with its global leadership in offshore wind and decades of nuclear expertise.
Poleo, who assumed his post in September 2021, is set to complete his tenure in early 2026. Born in South London to a Turkish Cypriot family, he described his time in Trkiye as both a personal and professional high point. Reflecting on joint achievements, Poleo highlighted the growing strength of the UK-Trkiye business relationship, citing partnerships that span sectors from health tech to aviation. Poleo first visited Istanbul at 21 as a student, recalling how he once stood outside the British Consulate building and imagined working there someday.