Turkey’s long-sought purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets has taken a significant step forward, with the UK confirming that all members of the manufacturing consortium now support the deal — potentially ending years of German resistance.
“We are certain all four consortium partners support this sale,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Hürriyet Daily News on Monday, referring to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain. His statement came just ahead of a meeting in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Lammy underscored Turkey’s growing importance as a European security partner amid increasing defense budgets and the ongoing threat posed by Russia. “Turkey’s role is more crucial than ever,” he said, noting that the country, which hosts NATO’s second-largest military after the United States, remains a cornerstone of regional stability.
While the German government did not confirm the shift publicly, a spokesman acknowledged the reports during a press briefing, stating that arms export decisions are made by the country’s security cabinet.
The UK first submitted a pricing proposal for the jets in March, breaking a prolonged deadlock in negotiations. The Eurofighter Typhoon is co-produced by a consortium involving Airbus (Germany and Spain), BAE Systems (UK), and Leonardo (Italy).
Germany had previously blocked the sale over geopolitical concerns, particularly Turkey’s disputes with Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Lammy noted that sustained British diplomacy in Berlin has been instrumental in changing the calculus.
Following last week’s NATO summit in The Hague, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hinted at progress in the talks, saying there had been “positive developments” in discussions with both the UK and Germany regarding the Eurofighter.
The emerging consensus over the Eurofighter deal also coincides with renewed efforts to resolve another longstanding defense dispute: Turkey’s removal from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program after it acquired Russia’s S-400 air defense system. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Sunday that Washington hopes to reach a resolution by the end of the year.
If finalized, the Eurofighter deal could mark a major turning point in Turkey’s efforts to modernize its air force and reinforce its standing within NATO, while also signaling a broader thaw in European-Turkish defense cooperation.
