Diplomatic Scandal Between the United Kingdom and Turkey

A diplomatic scandal is brewing between the United Kingdom and Turkey. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has cancelled a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, who had intended to raise the issue of the return of the Parthenon marbles during an interview with the BBC. This was reported by The Guardian.

However, the UK has also taken a controversial position under Sunak's leadership. Perhaps it is the only NATO member country (possibly excluding Spain) that has adopted a pro-Turkish stance. Last week, UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps visited Ankara and met with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.

While Erdogan is extorting NATO, and Americans and Germans are closing the door on sales of new fighter jets, London and Sunak's government are attempting to intervene in support of Erdogan's blackmail. The UK and Spain are the countries that are trying to accommodate Turkey’s request to join the consortium for producing Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which Turkey is using to blackmail the Americans, who have excluded Ankara from the F35 program and frozen the sale of F16s. The defense ministers of Turkey and the UK have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the defense sector. Turkey is interested in securing British support for the creation of a 'Turkish' fighter jet engine.

Sunak is likely to be another addition to the Conservative Party’s and the UK’s strategy ahead of the next elections. His opinion will no longer hold significance in a few months when the elections take place.