On the phone Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed bilateral relations and regional challenges.
Erdogan stated in a statement that throughout his tenure, he created “close dialogue” with Johnson and developed relations between Ankara and London based on mutual respect and understanding.
The president underlined his conviction that relations with the United Kingdom, Turkey’s strategic partner and close ally, will deepen and expand in all sectors with the same common sense and vision in the future.
The new Conservative Party leader, who will also become Prime Minister, will be unveiled on September 5.
On September 6, Queen Elizabeth II will receive the United Kingdom’s next Prime Minister at her Balmoral estate in Scotland for the first visit throughout her lengthy reign.
The queen will first welcome Johnson, who will give over his official resignation, and will then host either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, the two Conservative Party leadership candidates.
According to a Downing Street statement, Johnson praised Erdogan on Turkey’s “indispensable global leadership,” most notably in helping to lift Russia’s grain blockade in Ukraine.
He also stressed the need of continuing to support Ukraine, including through economic sanctions against Russia.
“They welcomed more trade between the United Kingdom and Turkey and sought to expand our existing free trade agreement to capitalise on the growing economic momentum. The leaders also talked about exciting new potential to further partnership in defence technology and nuclear power “it was added
Johnson and Erdogan exchanged best wishes for the future and agreed that the UK-Turkey friendship will continue to grow.