Downing Street announced on Tuesday that British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Turkey on Saturday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.
Her spokesman said the visit to Ankara would “reflect the fact that Turkey is an indispensable partner and a close ally for the UK on many issues of global importance including trade, security and defense.”
In response to a question from reporters on human rights violations in Turkey in a post-coup purge, the spokesman said the UK is clear in its support for Turkey’s democracy, adding that Turkey’s response must be proportionate.
Turkey has been conducting a relentless purge against critics since a July 15 coup attempt which President Erdoğan called “a great gift from God.”