Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Monday that one of Trkiye's primary strategic goals is to ensure the continuation of the current agreement between Iran and Israel, preventing any breach of the ceasefire that might jeopardize lasting peace in the region. This announcement came after a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the Turkish capital, highlighting the shared strategic interests between Ankara and London.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan emphasized the strong partnership between Trkiye and the UK, noting that both are NATO members with robust ties to Europe despite not being part of the EU. He highlighted the ongoing cooperation in various sectors, including economy, defense, and technology. The bilateral trade volume between the two nations is steadily approaching a target of $30 billion, a goal pursued with determination in recent years.
Fidan also mentioned the necessity of updating the existing Free Trade Agreement to unlock further trade and investment opportunities. In defense, he noted the remarkable progress in cooperation, citing projects such as Eurofighter procurement and other joint ventures. He further elaborated on the alignment of foreign policy perspectives between the two countries on global matters, including the conflicts in Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and the Russia-Ukraine tensions. Both nations support a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.
Addressing the Israel-Iran conflict, Fidan reiterated Trkiye's commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and achieving lasting peace. He also stressed the importance of ending the tragedy in Gaza through a ceasefire and a solution based on the two-state formula. Fidan expressed gratitude towards Lammy for the UK's decision to lift sanctions on Syria, announcing plans to visit the country soon as part of their cooperation to enhance regional stability and security.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also met with Lammy at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, though details of their closed-door discussion were not disclosed to the media.
The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13, following airstrikes by Tel Aviv on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, and was further escalated by US bombings of Iran's nuclear facilities. Tehran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes resulted in casualties and injuries, as reported by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A US-sponsored ceasefire took effect on June 24, bringing a temporary halt to hostilities.