London Fails to Push for Concessions from Erdogan

The UK has approved the sale of Eurofighter jets to Turkey, worth $10 billion, despite concerns about the deal’s strategic implications. The sale may empower Turkey’s President Erdogan to build an independent defense ecosystem, potentially competing with Western industry. The UK’s decision to approve the deal without concessions from Ankara may validate Erdogan’s argument that cash trumps conduct, setting a precedent for other would-be buyers. The sale was announced on October 28 in Ankara, where British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan stood side-by-side. The deal is seen as a strategic blunder for the UK, which could have used the sale to push for concessions from Erdogan or to condition the deal on Turkey’s commitment to democratic reforms.