German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Turkey’s purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, calling it a major step toward strengthening NATO’s defense posture amid growing tensions with Russia. The deal marks a significant milestone in Turkey’s military modernization drive and signals deeper cooperation within the alliance on air defense capabilities.
During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Merz expressed appreciation for Ankara’s efforts in brokering the October 10 truce and urged Turkey to continue using its diplomatic influence to persuade Hamas to move into the “second phase” of the ceasefire. However, Erdoğan voiced strong disagreement with Germany’s stance on Gaza, criticizing Israel’s ongoing airstrikes that he said had “killed more than 60,000 civilians, including women and children.”
Beyond the Eurofighter discussions, Turkey is seeking Germany’s support to gain access to the EU’s 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, a defense initiative designed to enhance the continent’s military capabilities. Despite being technically eligible, Turkey faces opposition from Greece, which has threatened to block Ankara’s participation. Germany has signaled a willingness to support Turkey’s inclusion, potentially improving defense collaboration across Europe.
Merz’s visit also focused on migration and regional security, with Berlin hoping to secure Ankara’s cooperation in accepting rejected asylum seekers and supporting the resumption of deportations to Syria. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also traveled to Damascus for talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking a renewed German effort to stabilize relations and address the refugee crisis.
