The United Kingdom has decided to expand its diplomatic missions in Turkey due to the country’s increasing international importance, the charge d’affaires of the British Embassy in Ankara said.
“Turkey’s growing role in the Middle East, its membership in the G-20 and its becoming more vocal and active around the world were among the factors that contributed to the decision,” the Hürriyet Daily News quoted Giles Portman as saying.
“We are focusing on the countries that we think are going to have a global influence in the future,” he said. “In all the consulates in Europe we will be reducing our staff; Istanbul is the only consulate in Europe where we are growing our political staff.”
British Foreign Minister William Hague announced last week that there would be a shift of resources in Britain’s diplomatic missions around the world. Besides significantly increasing its presence in emerging superpowers China and India, Hague said the U.K. would also make a substantial expansion of its diplomatic strength in Brazil, Turkey, Mexico and Indonesia.
“This is something that is going to boost our power of influence, particularly in the most powerful economies in the future. Turkey was identified as one of those important countries,” Portman said, adding that there would probably be new consulates opening in several big cities in Turkey.
The growth in Istanbul while other European consulates reduce staff show that “Istanbul is very important for us,” Portman said.
“We have actually been expanding in Turkey for several years now. We have a new strategic partnership that was launched last year,” he said
According to Portman, Turkey “is a vital partner in NATO, has an important influence in Middle Eastern countries as an EU candidate and negotiating country, is very popular with British tourists and is a country with which we certainly want to double our trade.”
