British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have held their first face-to-face meeting, with trade, defence, Gaza, Ukraine and Cyprus among the issues discussed.
The two leaders met in New York on Tuesday, 22 September, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, in their first in-person talks since Burnham became UK Prime Minister in July.
Downing Street said the leaders discussed the “strong bilateral relationship” between Britain and Türkiye, with Burnham saying he wanted to maximise the benefits of closer ties for both countries.
Trade featured prominently. With commerce between the two countries growing, Burnham and Erdoğan agreed to redouble efforts to conclude negotiations on an upgraded UK-Türkiye Free Trade Agreement. The Turkish side also highlighted defence industry cooperation as an area where bilateral relations could be strengthened further.
Burnham also said he was looking forward to attending the COP31 climate summit in November, while the leaders said they expected to meet again in Antalya.
Erdoğan raises Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot status
Significantly for Cyprus, the Turkish Presidency said Erdoğan used the meeting to reiterate Ankara’s position that any future settlement must recognise the sovereign equality and international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
According to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, Erdoğan told Burnham that “no formula regarding Cyprus would produce results unless the sovereign equality and international status of the Turkish Cypriots were recognised.”
Downing Street’s account of the meeting made no reference to Cyprus and did not disclose whether Burnham responded to Erdoğan’s remarks.
Britain has a particular historical role in Cyprus. Alongside Türkiye and Greece, the UK is a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, while Britain also retains its Sovereign Base Areas at Akrotiri and Dhekelia in southern Cyprus.
The most recently published UK position on a Cyprus settlement, contained in the UK-Cyprus Strategic Dialogue in December 2025, continued to support UN-agreed bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality.
Gaza, Ukraine and Black Sea security
Middle East developments also featured heavily in the talks.
Downing Street said Burnham thanked Erdoğan for Türkiye’s support for recent British measures targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with the Prime Minister arguing that support for a two-state solution needed to be accompanied by action.
The Turkish account said Erdoğan stressed the importance of international pressure over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. He also raised heightened tensions involving Iran and said an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz could help revive negotiations.
On Ukraine, Burnham and Erdoğan discussed security in the Black Sea and agreed on the need for an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during the coming winter. Burnham thanked the Turkish President for his diplomatic efforts in the conflict.
Erdoğan, meanwhile, expressed concern about attacks on Turkish and other foreign commercial vessels in the Black Sea, saying they were further complicating the conflict.
The meeting formed part of a busy round of diplomacy for both leaders during the UN General Assembly, with Burnham making his first appearance at the annual gathering as British Prime Minister and Erdoğan holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders.
Main photo, top, of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (left) meeting Andy Burnham at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 22 September 2026. Photo via Facebook / Turkish Presidency
