German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Turkey’s recent acquisition of 20 Eurofighter jets during his visit to Ankara, emphasizing that this move would enhance NATO’s collective security in light of escalating threats from Russia. Merz made these comments following discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, framing the military procurement as a significant step for the alliance amidst growing geopolitical tensions.
“Russia’s militant revisionism jeopardizes Euro-Atlantic security as a whole… and in this context, the German government expressly welcomes Turkey’s decision,” Merz stated at a joint news conference. He highlighted the importance of these aircraft for bolstering the military capabilities of NATO member nations.
However, the two leaders displayed a stark divide regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Merz expressed support for Israel’s military actions in response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, suggesting that the conflict could have been averted if Hamas had released hostages sooner. He noted that over 250 individuals were taken hostage during the initial assault, framing Israel’s response as an exercise of its right to self-defense.
Erdogan, on the other hand, vehemently opposed Merz’s characterization, asserting that Israel’s military operations had resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinian civilians, including women and children. He questioned the German leader’s awareness of the humanitarian crisis, asking, “Don’t you see these things in Germany? Aren’t you following them?”
Additionally, Merz acknowledged Turkey’s role in brokering a truce on October 10 and expressed hope that Ankara would leverage its influence over Hamas to further the peace process.
In discussing domestic issues, Merz addressed concerns regarding Turkish opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s imprisonment, which critics allege stems from politically driven motives. He remarked that some decisions in Turkey do not align with European standards of democracy and rule of law, particularly concerning judicial independence.
A source from Turkey’s defense ministry had indicated Ankara’s interest in Germany’s support for gaining access to an EU defense initiative, despite opposition from Greece. Turkey is technically eligible to benefit from the 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, but Greece has threatened to veto any such motion, complicating the process.
Germany appears open to assisting Turkey in accessing the EU scheme, which aims to bolster defense capabilities across Europe. During the talks, Merz also sought Turkey’s cooperation in the return of rejected asylum seekers to Germany. A German government source disclosed that Berlin is looking for “further concrete steps” from Ankara on this matter.
In a related diplomatic move, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Damascus, where he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, further indicating Berlin’s intention to resume deportations to Syria, with Turkish support. The discussions between the two nations reflect a complex web of military, humanitarian, and diplomatic issues that continue to shape their bilateral relationship.
