The Turkish government has been consulting with the UK on the purchase of a new or used aircraft carrier, but negotiations have been unsuccessful, Middle East Eye reported, citing sources.

Ankara requested the purchase of a new or decommissioned Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, they said, but British officials declined the request.

Turkey is already building the TCG Anadolu light aircraft carrier based on the Spanish SPS Juan Carlos I (L-61) multipurpose landing craft. The TCG Anadolu is expected to launch this year with the ability to use short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft such as the F-35.

Following Turkey's exclusion from the US F-35 program in 2019 in connection with Ankara's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, it is unclear whether TCG Anadolu will be able to deploy any military aircraft on its territory.

After consulting with the British government, Turkey decided to build its own vessel rather than buy it, said a second source familiar with the issue.