UK MoD Ben WALLACE: “In Today’s Security Landscape, the Relationship Between Turkey and UK is Even More Crucial!”

Defence Turkey: How important is the defense and security relationship with Turkey and would you like to talk about your recent exchanges with your counterparts in Turkey? 

MoD Ben WALLACE: Turkey remains an important NATO Ally with a critical role to play in many aspects of wider regional security, including the fight against terrorism. Our longstanding cooperation with Turkey remains strong within the NATO Alliance, as well as at the bilateral level in many areas of mutual interest and shared security concerns. 

And in today’s security landscape, the relationship between Turkey and the UK  is even more crucial. As the UK Secretary of State for Defense, I regularly meet with the Minister of State for Asia, Nigel Adams, to discuss common issues and challenges that both of our nations face in the region. And as NATO Allies, we are friends and partners and sharing the risks and burdens of addressing the world’s toughest problems. Earlier this year, we welcomed Minister AKAR to the UK to discuss how our nations can build on our strong defense relationship in a range of areas – including working together and with international partners to support regional security and the ongoing fight against Daesh terrorists - both nations are members of the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh.

Capability and industrial co-operation play an important part in the wider bilateral defense relationship. Following Minister AKAR’s visit to the UK the UK will visit IDEF in August, this time with a large delegation and it will also be attended by Minister of Exports, Graham STUART. The UK recently signed a FTA (in full) with Turkey, which identifies Turkey as one of our major trading partners post-Brexit and ensues the continuity of our trade relations.

Defence Turkey: In the defense and security sector what is the most prominent example of your industrial level cooperation with Turkey?

MoD Ben WALLACE:  Turkish Aerospace and BAE Systems are working together on the TF-X Program, on with BAE Systems providing technology know-how for the design phase of the program. The importance of this program for Turkey means that we always express our full support to UK Industry in its efforts to improve and broaden its contribution to this strategic program.

Looking ahead, shipbuilding is emerging as a promising area for cooperation between the UK and Turkey. As announced in the recent UK Integrated Review, the Royal Navy will develop a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship to help protect vital underwater maritime infrastructure from maritime threats and aims to have the ship in service by 2024. Our fleet of frigates and destroyers will grow through this decade with shipbuilding investment doubling over the life of this Government rising to over £1.7 billion a year.

We know that Turkey has been investing in its shipbuilding industry and is keen to develop its Aircraft Carrier after its LHD Program. We are ready to support its endeavors on this strategic capability unique to only a few countries in the world, learning from the technology and know-how we acquired while developing our own Aircraft Carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Turkey has also been developing its indigenous equipment capability too, with investment in in Unmanned Aerial Systems - the TB2 - and we are keen to expand our understanding and learn how this system has been successfully developed and employed. 

We are one of the few nations to enjoy the benefits of investing in this industry. Britain’s capacity for shipbuilding and its continuous investment on this industry for centuries is one of the main pillars that helped our country to achieve international trade as well as defense objectives.

Defence Turkey: What can you say about UK security and defense strategy and vision towards the future?

MoD Ben WALLACE: In March this year, the UK published its long-awaited Integrated Review of Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy. This was followed by the release of the UK MoD Command Paper, which highlighted our future look for the UK Armed Forces in greater detail.

The UK Government will spend over £85 billion on equipment over the next four years so our Armed Forces can adapt, compete effectively, and fight decisively when needed. This means an increase of over £24-billion increase over four years, including at least £6.6 billion to be spent on research and development (R&D) which informs our new capabilities to maintain a cutting-edge military. Our investment reaffirms the UK’s commitment to its Allies, making the UK the largest European spender on defense in NATO and the second largest in the Alliance.

To reach our future vision outlined in the Integrated Review, cooperation is essential when it comes to working with Allies and like-minded partner nations. Turkey is one of these nations, one that we trust and whose relationship is deeply valued.

Defence Turkey: Is there regular engagement of both armed forces? 

MoD Ben WALLACE: The UK and Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) enjoy a strong relationship based on the 2011 Military Co-operation Treaty. There is regular dialogue and defense engagement at all levels with the annual Vice Chief’s High Level Military Dialogue setting the agenda for deeper co-operation between our armed forces. There is no getting away from the fact that COVID has impacted on many of the planned activities over the past year and that is as true for many other countries as it is for Turkey. That said, although exercise and training has been curtailed there have been engagements, most recently when HMS Defender visited Istanbul.