BERLIN

Germany views Chancellor Friedrich Merz's upcoming visit to Türkiye this week as highly important, offering an opportunity to discuss several key topics, a government spokesman said Monday.

"This visit is indeed very important to us," deputy spokesman for the government Steffen Meyer told a press conference in Berlin. "Türkiye plays an important role—not only as a NATO ally but also as a dialogue partner on many international political issues," he stressed.

Meyer said this will be Chancellor Merz's first visit to Türkiye since taking office in May. He noted that Merz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have met several times at international gatherings, and Thursday's visit to Ankara will allow the leaders to continue those discussions.

"There are a number of important bilateral issues to discuss, as well as key foreign policy matters. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine will certainly be one of the main topics, as it has been on all the Chancellor's recent trips," Meyer said, without providing further details.