British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said Britain’s relationship with Turkey was indispensable, praising the impact of security cooperation and the prospect of close post-Brexit trade ties.
But she added a diplomatic warning on the need for restraint.
“It is right that those who sought to overthrow the democratically elected government are brought to justice,” May said, speaking alongside Erdoğan in her Downing Street office following their meeting.
"But it is also important that in the defense of democracy, which has been facing extraordinary pressures from the failed coup, instability across the border from Syria and from Kurdish terrorism, Turkey does not lose sight of the values it is seeking to defend."
Erdoğan held talks with May at 10 Downing St. on the final day of a three-day trip to the U.K. that included an audience with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and drew protests.
Erdoğan’s visit is part of May’s charm offensive to shore up relations with countries outside the European Union as Britain prepares to leave the bloc and secure at least the promise of future trade deals to bolster her all but stalled Brexit plans.
Last year, May secured a commitment for Britain and Turkey to work on post-Brexit trade.
Speaking on May 15, Erdoğan welcomed a transition deal agreed between London and the EU to ease Britain’s departure from the bloc.
He said the two leaders had agreed trade could be increased to $20 billion annually, up from the 2017 level of around 16 billion.
The three-day visit which wraps up Tuesday comes as the Turkish leader campaigns for re-election after calling a snap poll for June 24, bringing the vote forward by a year and a half.
