Turkey reached deals with NATO allies Britain and Germany on Wednesday that pave the way to acquiring dozens of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which Ankara has sought to bolster defenses in an increasingly volatile region.
Turkey has been in talks to purchase 40 of the jets, which are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy, and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo.
Beyond the Eurofighters, Ankara is also in talks with Washington to purchase 40 F-16s.
Israel's attacks on regional countries, including its 12-day conflict with Turkey's neighbor Iran and more recent strikes on another neighbor Syria, have unnerved Ankara, prompting a push for rapid armament in order to counter any potential threats.
Speaking at a signing ceremony with British Defence Secretary John Healey in Istanbul, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said the deal brought Turkey "one step closer to a fully comprehensive agreement" on the jets, adding it would also strengthen NATO and Turkey's aerial capabilities.
"We welcome this positive step toward our country joining the Eurofighter Typhoon club, and want to reiterate our mutual ambition to complete the necessary arrangements as soon as possible," he said.
Guler also told reporters that the composition of the planned acquisition was for 40 jets but that different options were being considered.
Previous acquisition talks had failed
In 2023, talks over Turkey’s acquisition of the fighter jets failed due to Germany’s reluctance to approve an export license over concerns about the country’s foreign policy, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization member has, in recent years, aligned itself with Russia, China, and Ankara has hosted members of terror organizations, notably Hamas leadership.
At a press conference in London last week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that negotiators were nearing a decision that would make an export license feasible, WSJ reported, citing two sources.
The UK is leading the export campaign for the Typhoon fighter jet, according to a spokesperson for the UK Defense Ministry, the report noted. A principle of agreement between the UK and Turkey for the export of the fighter jets could be announced at the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, sources said, according to the report.
Talks are also underway with Qatar and Austria. Saudi Arabia, another potential buyer, is more focused on the American F-35 jets, the report said, citing a source familiar with the matter.
In May, the US agreed to sell the Gulf state an arms package worth nearly $142 billion.