In Constantinople is the German chancellor Olaf Solzwho is expected to meet at 13:30 with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After the meeting of the two leaders, in his palaces Dolmabahçewill be followed by joint statements and a press conference at 15:30. On the agenda of the talks are armaments, immigration, the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

Among the issues that the Turkish side gives its main weight is the issue of the purchase of 5th generation fighter aircraft Eurofighter. Turkish press reports in the past reported that the Germany gave the “green light” to Turkey’s purchase of European fighters, they noted however that the Berlin conducts negotiations with Turkeysetting conditions for “combat aircraft use zones”. Consultations between the two countries seem to have acquired a more serious character after the meeting of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the German chancellor Olaf Solz in New York last month.

The remaining members of the Eurofighter consortium, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain approve the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, but this sale is “stuck” by Germany’s refusal. Turkey is interested in buying at least 20 Eurofighters in the first phase, worth 5.6 billion dollars, but in total it plans to acquire 40 European 5th generation fighters.

Berlin is said to have also approved the sale of arms worth 336 million euros, mainly for the Turkish Navy. A report states that among the weapons systems approved for export are 100 guided missiles produced by the MBDA company and 28 SeaHake type torpedoes by the ThyssenKrupp company for the Turkish Navy. The price of the missiles amounts to approximately 100 million euros, while the price of the torpedoes to 156 million euros. The report also notes that joint ventures, in which German industries participate, have been given permission to provide defense equipment packages for the modernization of Turkish Type 209 submarines. The relevant budget amounts to 79 million euros. In addition, the German government will proceed with the delivery of parts for engines, intended for Turkish corvettes and frigates, worth 1.9 million euros. The program to build six Type 214 submarines for the Turkish Navy in co-production with the German ThyssenKrupp is already underway.

The prevention of irregular migration and arms exports are among the most critical issues that will also be discussed between the two leaders in the framework of bilateral relations.

The German government wants Turkey, which is a transit country, to strengthen measures to prevent irregular immigration and speed up the process of returning to Turkey those whose asylum claims are not accepted in Germany.

By the end of August this year, a total of 21,590 Turkish citizens had applied for asylum in Germany. Turks occupy the third place in asylum applications after Syrians and Afghans. Information in the past few days has indicated that Berlin is preparing to deport up to 14,500 Turkish citizens who are in Germany illegally. In return, Germany reportedly promised to speed up visa procedures for Turkish citizens.