The relationship between Türkiye and the United Kingdom has a longstanding history. England was among the first nations to establish formal diplomatic ties with the Ottoman Empire, appointing William Harborne as Ambassador to Istanbul in 1583. In 1793, the Ottoman Empire assigned Yusuf Agah Efendi to London as its first diplomatic envoy abroad.

Over the centuries, Türkiye-UK relations have developed into a broad partnership. This partnership was formally reinforced with the signing of the Strategic Partnership Document in 2007, which was renewed in 2010, demonstrating the mutual commitment to expanding collaboration across various sectors.

High-level diplomatic exchanges continue to underscore the depth of this partnership. In May 2018, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted an official visit to the United Kingdom, followed by another visit in December 2019 for the NATO Leaders’ Meeting.

Economic and trade relations remain vibrant and continue to advance. The UK is among Türkiye’s top five export markets, with bilateral goods trade reaching approximately $20 billion in 2023 and an aspirational target of $30 billion. Following Brexit, Türkiye and the UK signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in December 2020. In 2024, the two governments agreed to upgrade the FTA to include services, digital trade, sustainability, and advanced agricultural concessions. The Joint Economic and Trade Committee, co-chaired by the Trade Ministers of both countries, remains a cornerstone of bilateral economic cooperation.

Investment flows between Türkiye and the UK also highlight the strength of this partnership. The UK is Türkiye’s third source of direct investment, with British investment inflow to Türkiye between 2002 and June 2024 amounting to $14 billion. In the same period, Turkish investment inflow to the UK reached approximately $4.5 billion. Türkiye’s position as a regional manufacturing and export hub offers attractive opportunities for British investors, particularly in sectors such as automotive, defense, finance, health, and energy. Turkish companies operating in the UK are similarly active in fields such as home appliances, financial services, paper and glass production, textiles, construction, and tourism.

Tourism is another field of cooperation, with UK citizens comprising the third-largest group visiting Türkiye to enjoy its many attractions. There is also robust cooperation in other fields, including the defense industry, security, green transformation, AI, education, and culture.