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THERESA May yesterday met controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a one-day visit to Ankara.

The two leaders announced a 100 million-plus defence collaboration deal on the continued development of fighter jets for Turkey.

She was the first Western leader to meet Erdogan, who has been criticised for the government's human rights record, since last year's attempted coup. The meeting follows her visit to Donald Trump in Washington.

May told the Turkish president that Britain stood with Erdogan and his defence of Turkey's democracy, but warned him it was "important" to uphold human rights.

Speaking to Erdogan as they addressed the press at his presidential palace, the Prime Minister said: "Turkey is one of the UK's oldest friends, our relations stretch back over 400 years but there is much that we can do in the future to build on that relationship together.

"I'm proud the UK stood with you on July 15 last year in defence of your democracy. Now it's important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations, as the government has undertaken to do."

May had come under pressure to raise human rights issues with the Turkish president, who has imposed a state of emergency involving waves of arrests, the closure of numerous media outlets and the removal of thousands of public officials - including judges, academics and teachers - from their jobs.

Speaking before the PM's arrival in Turkey, Amnesty International's UK director Kate Allen said the visit was a "vital opportunity" for May to ask "probing questions" about allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment of detainees by Erdogan's security forces.

The human rights situation in Turkey had "deteriorated markedly" during the state of emergency imposed after last July's botched coup, said Amnesty.

May and Erdogan also discussed counter-terrorism, security, trade and migration in talks which stretched for an hour longer than scheduled.

During the visit, the UK-based BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace Industries signed a Heads of Agreement document establishing a partnership for the continued development of the Turkish Fighter Programme (TF-X).

British officials said the contract would safeguard high-skill jobs at BAE Systems and could lead to opportunities worth billions of pounds over the lifetime of the project, with potential future contracts to provide engines, weapons, radars and sensors.

It was hoped the deal would pave the way for a deeper defence partnership, effectively making the UK Turkey's partner of choice for key aerospace technology.

May, who has made preparations for closer post-Brexit trading links her top priority for the Turkey trip, said: "This agreement underlines once again that Britain is a great, global, trading nation and that we are open for business.

"It marks the start of a new and deeper trading relationship with Turkey and will potentially secure British and Turkish jobs and prosperity for decades to come."

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After Trump ... May meets Erdogan and signs defence deal - Herald Scotland

Recep Tayyip Erdogans carefully planned move to become legal dictator of Turkey is in its final stages. In the wake of a foiled coup, Erdogan removed or imprisoned every judge not on his side, shut down all opposition newspapers, and jailed all of his political opponents.

After his hand-picked court approved the changes Erdogan wanted, all that remains is a Public Referendum which Erdogan will win simply because he gets to count the votes.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has begun a final push to increase his power as Turkeys president a goal he has sought for years after the countrys parliament agreed far-reaching constitutional changes that will now be put to referendum.

The proposed changes, which were shepherded through parliament on Friday night in alliance between Turkeys ruling AKP and a nationalist party, would crown Mr Erdogans 14-year rule by boosting his formal role as president and allowing him to remain in post until 2029.

In a sign of the tension that may mark the referendum, fist fights broke out in parliament over several days, while a television blackout of the opposition speeches forced one opposing MP to bring his own cameras into parliament, only to have his microphone stolen.

Since the failed coup and the introduction of emergency powers, he has ruled the country by decree and 100,000 people accused of backing the coup have been imprisoned.

It is unclear if the president will lift the state of emergency before the poll, scheduled for an unspecified date after April 2, but some of the permanent powers he seek resemble the emergency powers he currently holds.

Expect a Permanent Emergency

Expect a permanent emergency with increasing power every step of the way to Erdogan. This is likely to continue until he is overthrown in a coup, assassinated, or until Turkey disintegrates into hyperinflation.

Turkish Lira Down 62 Percent Since September 2010

Thats not close to hyperinflation material, but hyperinflation is an increasing possibility when madmen dictators are in charge.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in bed with Erdogan who wants visa-free access to the EU for 80 million Muslim Turks.

Are German election threats and fireworks due to Erdogan coming up?

Mike Mish Shedlock

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Erdogan Seeks Powers to Stay in Office Until 2029: Expect ...

Theresa May and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoan have signed a 100m commitment to build new fighter jets, in a deal Downing Street hopes will see Britain become Turkeys leading defence partner.

Despite concerns about Erdoans human rights record and the increasingly authoritarian tone of his government, which has locked up thousands of political dissidents and protestors, a Downing Street spokeswoman said the two issues human rights and trade were distinct.

I think those are separate issues; Turkey is an important Nato partner, so our cooperation on both security and defence is in line with that.

She added: The PMs approach is quite clear: she thinks it is important and in the UKs interests to engage with Turkey.

Speaking alongside Erdogan in his vast office, May did take the opportunity to raise the issue of human rights, saying, Im proud that the UK stood with you on the 15 July last year in defence of democracy and now it is important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations as the government has undertaken to do.

In his statement, Erdogan stressed the possibilities for boosting trade between the two nations, saying they had talked extensively about the jet deal and predator drones.

Asked about the crackdown that followed last years attempted coup against Erdoans leadership, Mays spokeswoman said: We have expressed strong support for Turkeys democracy and institutions following the coup, but have also been very clear that we urge Turkeys response to be proportionate and in line with international human rights obligations.

May and Erdoan appeared alongside each other at his lavish presidential palace on a hill overlooking Ankara.

The prime minister, who had earlier laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, said: This agreement underlines once again that Britain is a great, global trading nation and that we are open for business.

It marks the start of a new and deeper trading relationship with Turkey and will potentially secure British and Turkish jobs and prosperity for decades to come.

Britain is keen to show it can strike lucrative trade deals as it prepares to exit the European Union, and the prime minister flew to Ankara straight from Washington, where she became the first foreign leader to visit Donald Trump in the White House.

The defence deal will see BAE Systems collaborate with Turkish companies to build a bespoke Turkish jet, the TF-X. It is worth 100m small in economic terms but Britain hopes it will kick off a longstanding relationship, and open the door to becoming Turkeys main defence provider. We would expect this to unlock further deals, the spokeswoman said.

May and Erdoan also agreed to form a joint working group to begin talking about a bilateral trade deal that could be signed after Brexit.

Britain currently trades with Turkey under its trade deal with the EU, which will no longer be valid when Britain leaves. The working group will be the 13th Britain has established to scope out potential agreements.

As well as signing the so-called heads of agreement for the jet deal, May and Erdoan discussed security cooperation and counterterrorism.

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Theresa May signs 100m fighter jet deal with Turkey's Erdoan - The Guardian

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan took a break Friday from dealing with his country's domestic issues to meet with actress Lindsay Lohan and Bana Alabed, the seven-year-old Syrian girl who attracted worldwide attention by tweeting about life in war-torn Aleppo.

Alabed -- who has been living in Turkey since she was evacuated from Aleppo on Dec. 19 -- tweeted a Periscope video with Lohan, writing, "look who I am with ... I have a new friend Lindsay Lohan."

In the 30-second video, Lohan, 30, says, "We want to send to all of the people in Syria and Aleppo suffering and all of the refugees that we are here supporting you and you can hang on, be strong, just like Bana has, and were sending you lots of love and light and blessings."

Alabed then says to Lohan, "I love you," to which the actress responds, "I love you too."

Lohan also posted a photo on Instagram Friday of herself with Alabed, Erdogan and his wife Emine, writing, "What a dream it is for Mr. President Erdogan and The First Lady to invite me to their home. Their efforts in helping Syrian Refugees is truly inspiring." Lohan also tagged President Donald Trump in the photo's caption.

Alabed tweeted the same photo writing, "Meeting with my friends @rt_erdogan, Emine and @lindsaylohan to support the people of Syria.I am searching the rights of the Syrian children

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Lindsay Lohan Meets With Turkish President Erdogan and Syrian Refugee Bana Alabed - ABC News

Is Erdogan A Russian Ally Or Putin's Puppet? Forbes Russian and Turkish strongmen Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan appear closer than ever. For years Erdogan opposed Putin's position on Syria, and demanded that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad must go. No longer does Erdogan voice this ... and more »

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Is Erdogan A Russian Ally Or Putin's Puppet? - Forbes