New UK ambassador lands in Ankara

ANKARA

Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson, the United Kingdom’s newly appointed ambassador to Türkiye, arrived in Ankara on Aug. 26, announcing the start of her tenure.

Anderson, who previously served as deputy head of mission in Ankara, announced that she had begun her new posting in the Turkish capital in a video shared on social media.

Describing her journey from London to Ankara, Anderson said she had flown to Türkiye many times before, but that this trip was different for her.

Recalling her previous posting in Ankara, Anderson said: “Over the years, I have flown from London to Türkiye many times, including during my time as deputy head of mission in Ankara between 2017 and 2020. But this flight is different. My return to Ankara as the United Kingdom’s ambassador-designate to Türkiye is very special and symbolic for me.”

Noting that seven years had passed since her last posting in Ankara, Anderson said many things had changed in Türkiye during that time.

“It has only been seven years since I was last in Ankara, but so much has changed in that time,” she said.

Anderson also highlighted the development of economic ties between Türkiye and the U.K., saying bilateral trade had risen from around 17 billion Sterlin in 2017 to more than 28 billion today.

She said the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries following the U.K.’s departure from the European Union had also contributed to the increase, adding that people-to-people ties between the two countries had grown stronger.

Anderson said 11.5 million passengers traveled between the U.K. and Türkiye in 2025, including 4.4 million British tourists.

Anderson also said returning to Ankara had brought back memories of her previous posting, recalling walks and visits to different neighborhoods of the city.

“I’m really looking forward to rediscovering my old favorite places and finding some new favorites along the way,” she said.