UK Prime Minister Theresa May is in Ankara for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.<br /><br /> Coming a day after she met US President Donald Trump in Washington, insiders say it is part of a charm offensive to bolster her hand in negotiations to leave the EU.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Theresa May arrives in Turkey to draw up a free trade deal in a fresh Brexit boost https://t.co/LAx5XlQXyM pic.twitter.com/3EbKK6Pt3H— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) January 28, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What did they talk about?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Two key themes were on the agenda.<br /><br /> “They will be discussing a new trade relationship following the UK’s exit from the EU,” said a spokeswoman said before the meeting.<br /><br /> “They are expected to agree to..a strategic security partnership.”<br /><br /> Other topics include Cyprus, Syria and stepping up cooperation on aviation security cooperation.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What has Turkey said?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> President Erdogan says they discussed steps towards defence industry cooperation.<br /><br /> Erdogan told reporters he hopes to boost annual trade with the UK to $20 billion from $15.6 billion now<br /><br /> He also said an important step has been taken towards Turkey’s TF-X fighter jet project.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> A “working group”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The plan is to launch a joint working group with Ankara to prepare the ground for a new, post-Brexit trade agreement.<br /><br /> May’s spokeswoman said, if there is agreement, Turkey would be the 13th country to set up a working group on trade with the UK.<br /><br /> The UK government is keen to start laying the foundations for bilateral trade agreements for when the country leaves the EU.<br /><br /> It is thought the process will take at least two years from the date formal negotiations are triggered.<br /><br /> Theresa May has said this will come at the end of March.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> A “jumbo” free trade deal?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The UK foreign minister Boris Johnson said on a visit to Ankara last year that he was hoping for a “jumbo” free trade deal with Turkey after Brexit.<br /><br /> Ankara has been negotiating its membership of the EU since 2005. However, it is in a customs union with Brussels.<br /><br /> The UK was the second-largest destination for Turkish exports in 2015.<br /><br /> IMF trade figures suggest it bought $10.6 billion in goods.<br /><br /> Only Germany imports more from Turkey.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Will May mention human rights?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> There has been international concern about human rights in Turkey since a failed coup attempt in the country last July.<br /><br /> May’s spokeswoman says Britain has “expressed our strong support for Turkey’s democracy and institutions following the coup.”<br /><br /> “But we have also been clear that we urge Turkey to ensure that our response is proportionate, justified and in line with international human rights obligations,” she continued.<br /><br /> Since the failed coup, Turkey has:<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> jailed 40,000 pending trial<br /> suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 from the military, judiciary and public services.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> More than 5,000 cases filed against #Turkey over post-coup purge, says European Court of Human Rights https://t.co/M4b29eCvb
