Turkey and the UK: New Best Friends?

Summary:

The more Turkey clashes with the EU, individual member-states, or the US over issues like Libya and the eastern Mediterranean, the more complicated it will be for the UK not to be drawn into the argument. As one of Turkey’s closest partners, the UK should resist the temptation to conclude a trade deal with Turkey without first having done so with the EU, as this would bring it limited benefits but would further poison EU-Turkey relations. At the same time, London should warn Ankara about the risks of pursuing a more assertive foreign policy, encourage it to engage in dialogue with its neighbours to resolve differences and try to de-escalate tensions.

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