Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in Ankara, with defense industry and immigration as the main topics on the agenda.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey and Germany have “high potential” for cooperation in the defense industry and should focus on joint projects.

“In light of the changing security conditions in Europe, we must leave behind the problems of the past related to the supply of defense products and focus on joint projects,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ankara.

“We welcome the positive steps Germany has recently taken in this area, such as the Eurofighter process. Considering Turkey’s defense dynamics,
we clearly have extensive opportunities with Germany. We can further strengthen this cooperation with the logic of win-win”, he noted.

Asked about Turkey’s European path, Erdogan said Ankara “is calm and certain” about its stance towards the European Union.

“We have always said that the Copenhagen Criteria are not a negative process for us. If Europe approaches Turkey based on the Copenhagen Criteria, we also have the Ankara Criteria,” he said. “With the criteria of Ankara, we are opening the door to Europe and the world. Because Turkey is not just any European
or Asian country” he added.

The Turkish president, responding to a question about the conviction and imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, said that “no one can step on the laws, regardless of their position”, emphasizing that “justice manages the legal process as required”.

Referring to Gaza, Erdogan launched a scathing criticism of Germany, accusing it of indifference to the “genocide”, famine and Israeli attacks on Gaza, during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ankara on Thursday.

Erdogan claimed that Israel has nuclear and other weapons, which it “uses and threatens” Gaza, while the Palestinian organization Hamas does not have such means. As he said, “despite the truce”, Israel has “attacked Gaza again in recent days”.

“Sadly, over 60,000 children, women and the elderly have been killed during this period. Hamas has no bombs. Hamas does not have nuclear weapons. But Israel has and has all these weapons, and Israel used these weapons, for example, last night,” Erdogan said.

“Doesn’t Germany see all this?” asked the Turkish president, adding that it is a humanitarian duty of Turkey, Germany and all countries to contribute to ending the famine and massacres in Gaza.

Mertz: “Turkey should not be left out of European strategic partnerships”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underlined that Germany and Turkey, as NATO allies, share common security interests, stressing that Ankara knows that Russia’s military revisionism poses a threat to Europe and Euro-Atlantic stability.

“Germany and Turkey are allies in NATO and we have common interests. It is known in Ankara that Russia’s military revisionism threatens the security of Europe and the Atlantic region. Therefore, we are implementing the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in The Hague,” Mertz said.

The German chancellor expressed satisfaction with Turkey’s decision to purchase 20 Eurofighter fighter jets, with the consent of the German government.
“We are pleased to report that Turkey has decided to acquire 20 Eurofighters, following Germany’s approval as well. These aircraft will serve our collective security,” he stressed.

The German chancellor emphasized that Europe and Germany must develop their strategic partnerships with Turkey, underlining that Ankara “is a very important factor in almost all foreign policy and security policy issues that concern us”.

“As Germans and as Europeans, we must develop our strategic partnerships and Turkey must not be left out of this process,” said Mertz, as reported by SKAI’s correspondent in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis.

The chancellor noted that “here we can build on solid foundations. Our societies and economies, as I just mentioned, are very closely linked. At the same time, we are very close allies in NATO. Turkey is a very important factor in almost all foreign policy and security policy issues that concern us. We will continue to work on this basis and restart a strategic dialogue.”

Referring specifically to security policy and defense cooperation, Mertz said the two sides would be in “closer cooperation”, referring to the procurement of Eurofighter jets. He also stressed that this cooperation “offers many opportunities”, pointing out that significant progress can also be made in the transport and railway sectors.

“Turkey does not meet the Copenhagen criteria”

Mertz said he had discussed the issue of immigration with Mr Erdogan, noting that Berlin wanted more progress on deportations.

At the same time, the German chancellor pointed out that he sees Turkey “being close to the side of the European Union”, stressing, however, that “it has not yet fulfilled the criteria required for its candidacy to the European Union”.

The German chancellor emphasized that he wants a strategic dialogue with Europe, he wants Turkey’s integration and relations, but pointing out that in the matter of Justice and the rule of law, “Turkey does not comply with the Copenhagen criteria”.

“Personally – and on behalf of the German government – ​​I see Turkey as a close partner of the European Union. We want to continue to ease the way to Europe,” Mertz said.

“The federal government and I want to see Turkey in the EU. We want it to stand by us and move forward on this path. I expressed to the President my desire for a strategic dialogue on this issue at European level. We mentioned the Copenhagen criteria as a prerequisite. We intend to continue to address these issues,” Mertz said.

“With the president we discussed the criteria of the EU, the perspective of Europe. The road to the EU passes through the observance of the Copenhagen criteria. The decisions taken in Turkey do not meet the Copenhagen conditions. In the rule of law, in democracy, as we understand it in Europe. The dialogue must continue on these issues” pointed out the German chancellor.

He then emphasized that “we want Turkey to play an important role. The Commission’s reports are also necessary for such a perspective. This is not only the assessment of Germany, but of the entire EU. We will continue this dialogue. We discussed it in detail and I expressed my concerns. For example, I stated that there are issues about the independence of the judiciary that are incompatible with our understanding.”

“Israel exercised its right to self-defense”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, responding to the Turkish president’s criticisms, recalled that the Federal Government has stood by Israel since its foundation.

“On October 7, 2023, there was a terrorist attack against Israel. More than 1000 people were killed in one day. “Hundreds more died in the following period, and in our view Israel then used the right of self-defense,” Friedrich Mertz said.

“Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Federal Government has stood by its side. Israel became home to millions of Jews who sought refuge. For this reason, Germany will always stand by Israel. But this does not mean that we support every decision of the Israeli government,” said Mertz. “Our previous governments have faced criticism. My government has stood by the State of Israel, the Jewish people, since October 7,” he noted.

The German chancellor added that Israel exercised its right to self-defense and stressed that the war “could have ended with a single decision if Hamas had released the hostages earlier and laid down its weapons. Then this war would have ended immediately. The children in Gaza, their fate, which really saddens me, they were hostages of Hamas. I hope this ends now.”