Panel in London discusses Türkiye-UK ties

By Behlul Cetinkaya

LONDON (AA) - The UK-Türkiye relations were discussed at a panel in London with participation of Turkish and British officials.

The event organized by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate was held at the Turkish Embassy with the attendance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic, Türkiye's Ambassador Osman Koray Ertas, and Cagatay Ozdemir, deputy head of the Communications Directorate.

Addressing the panel, Ertas recalled that it has been about four centuries when the first British ambassador was appointed to the Ottoman Empire, and nearly 230 years since the appointment of Turkish ambassador to London.

Saying that this shows the depth of bilateral ties, the envoy noted that the world has changed but the strategic importance of relations remains.

He said that as NATO members, Türkiye and the UK are two important powers in Europe.

Trade, tourism, investment, energy, defense industry and security are top priority areas in bilateral ties, Ertas said, expressing the desire to enhance the relations further in different areas.

Ertas said there is huge potential for collaboration on artificial intelligence and green transformation.

A video message by Communications Director Fahrettin Altun was also delivered during the panel.

Tim Reid, the chief executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF), Foreign Office Director Europe Victoria Billing, Ilaria Regondi, chief Negotiator of UK-Türkiye Free Trade Agreement, and Hasan Turunc, director London representation at TUSIAD were among the attendees at the discussion moderated by Kilic Bugra Kanat, director of research at the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research's (SETA) Washington office.