Mertz: What does the German chancellor bring during his visit to Ankara

By Stefanos Nikolaidis

OR today’s visit of the German chancellor Friedrich Mertz in Anchor comes in a period intense fermentations around her role Turkey in European security architecture and the new geopolitical chessboard her Eastern Mediterranean.

After the British deal for the 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fightersh visit of Mertz is considered nodal to shape the “German answer» at opening of London towards her Anchor — but also to set the fundamentals once of a new, more realistic Euro-Turkish approach.

The Merz triptych: Migration, Eurofighter, SAFE

The issue of return migrants constitutes the main subject of conversations of Mertz with him Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

OR Germany looking for one new “EU-Turkey deal” type agreement to limit them migration flows and speed them up returns of irregular migrants.

At Berlin they know that without cooperation with Ankara, there can be no effective control on Europe’s eastern borders — and o Mertz he considers it political bet for his government.

The second piece of discussions it’s about deal of Eurofighter Typhoon.

THE Mertz arrives at Anchor with the intention of confirming the German consent at agreementbut also to check them techniques and economic parameters her.

Diplomatic sources point out:

“Mertz is interested in seeing the details of the deal. Germany has a role in the Eurofighter consortium, but it is not London. Berlin’s attitude will be more cautious, more institutional. Do not expect the same “ease” of agreements as in the Starmer-Erdogan meeting. The tones will be clearly lower.”

At the same time, German industry looks forward to financial benefits her synergy with her Turkish defense industrywhich in recent years has been upgraded with Bayraktarthe Hürjet and the Altai.

The third issue in agenda it’s about European defense policy fund SAFE (Strategic Armament for Europe)in which the Turkey seeks to participate.

As analysts explain, Mertz wants to enter Turkey at SAFEnot only for political reasonsbut to ensure synergy between German and Turkish companies and keep them in his “chariot». After all, at this moment the Anchor works very closely with Italy and her Spain – not with her Germany.

OR entry her Turkey at SAFEhowever, assumes unanimity of all member states, with Greece to have made it clear that he will block her participation her Ankara if not removed casus belli.

The issue is expected to be raised with Attentionas it touches them Greek-Turkish balances and the safety net at Aegean.

Imamoglu, the rule of law and human rights

OR visit of Mertz comes at a time where the Turkey is back in focus criticism about her condition democracy and of human rights.

OR imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglouhas caused reactions in Europe.

As sources comment,

“Regardless of important bilateral issues such as immigration or the Eurofighter, the state of the rule of law and human rights cannot be ignored. Mertz should put them on the table, if only in a diplomatic way.”

OR stop of Berlin will constitute barometer about how the EU will balance between need for cooperation with her Turkey and her defense of European values.

The parallel Spanish agreement – ​​the “opening” of Turkey to Europe

At the same time, the agreement Spain – Turkey for her purchase of 45 Turkish HÜRJET training aircraft height 3.12 billion euros confirms her penetration her Turkish aviation industry in European market.

The aircraft will be manufactured in Turkey from the TAIwith her Airbus Spain to participate in electronic systems and them communications.

It is, according to analysts, about bigger step of European integration her Turkish defense industry.

Greece is watching – Coolness and stable alliances

From Greek side it doesn’t exist worry for tipping the balance.

Diplomatic sources note that the our country will already have F-35 when the Turkey receives them first Eurofighter.

The question is strategic reading: n Turkey seeks to re-enter institutionally in European orbit. But it is not certain that he does it to change; he does it to bargain.

OR Athens continues to invest in stable her alliances – USA, France, Israel, Egypt – and make use of them its institutional advantages inside the EUlike the right of veto in programs like the SAFE.

OR Mertz visit in Anchor it’s not just a diplomatic mission· is one balance test between the political expediency and them European values.

For her Germanyis one opportunity to maintain influence in Turkey without alienating them European partners her.

For her Turkeyone more time act at game of “return to the West».

And for her Greece, reminder how the composure and the consistency at strategy is, after all, the strongest deterrent.