On Oct. 6 British Defense Minister Ben Wallace made an visit to Turkey where he was received by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in an elaborate ceremony in Istanbul after which bilateral talks took place. The Turkish delegation included Turkey’s Naval Forces Commander Adnan Özbal and Deputy National Defense Minister Muhsin Dere. According to a statement by the Turkish Defense Minister they discussed bilateral and regional defense, security issues and cooperation in the defense industry. So far there has been no coverage in the British press coverage nor a statement by Wallace. While Britain discusses defense cooperation, Canada has suspended defense sales with Turkey after reports that military equipment sold to Turkey was observed to be used by Azerbaijan forces against Nagorno-Karabakh.
This is Wallace’s second visit to Turkey this year and is considered very pro-Turkey, while Britain has a strong defense relationship with Ankara. Both Rolls Royce and BAE Systems are involved in Turkey’s project to develop its own jet fighter to replace its F-16s.
On Idlib, Syria, it is significant that today Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that Turkey threatened the Syrian government, warning “Turkey will do more than merely retaliate if its observation posts in Idlib are targeted,” he told ruling Justice and Development Party deputies at a meeting in Ankara.
