{"id":28000,"date":"2018-05-24T14:28:13","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T14:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/24\/is-the-us-out-as-turkeys-top-western-arms-dealer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:23:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:23:57","slug":"is-the-us-out-as-turkeys-top-western-arms-dealer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2018\/05\/24\/is-the-us-out-as-turkeys-top-western-arms-dealer\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the US out as Turkey\u2019s top Western arms dealer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ANKARA, Turkey \u2014 Britain may replace the U.S. as Turkey\u2019s major Western weapons supplier, as the two European nations are set to take a \u201cstrategic\u201d turn in an already growing defense relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey and Britain have been negotiating<\/a> a comprehensive trade agreement in anticipation for the latter\u2019s exit from the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a British diplomat in Ankara, the two NATO allies agree on the importance of \u201cdoing the maximum in their capacity in the field of defense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth partners have a long-term, strategic view of their cooperation on defense technologies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Turkish presidential aide said both countries agree \u201ca significant part of the [post-Brexit] trade deal will involve defense technologies and cooperation on several systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense cooperation was a major part of government-to-government talks during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s state visit to London on May 15. Turkey\u2019s top procurement officer, Ismail Demir, was, among other senior officials, in Erdogan\u2019s delegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were several rounds of discussions between officials and company executives,\u201d said one Turkish procurement official who was in Erdogan\u2019s delegation. \u201cThere will be follow-on meetings before new programs and their partnership modalities mature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britain is the only European heavyweight with no occasional rifts with Turkey\u2019s Islamist strongman, Erdogan, over Ankara\u2019s increasingly visible democratic deficit. Instead, according to a London-based Turkey specialist, Britain is focused on trade and transactional relations with the country. \u201cThat keeps the Turks happy and trade ties prosper,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior Turkish diplomat noted that \u201cTurkey is one of Britain\u2019s most strategic post-Brexit trade partners. In turn, we view the kingdom as a reliable partner in sensitive defense technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t