ISTANBUL
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said that Berlin desires to see Ankara in the EU, noting Türkiye's role in foreign policy.
Merz said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he seeks to launch a strategic dialogue on the issue at the European level and that they discussed the Copenhagen criteria.
“We want to continue these discussions going forward,” Merz, who visited Türkiye as the chancellor for the first time, said in a news conference with Erdogan in the capital Ankara.
Noting that the world has entered “a new geopolitical phase where major powers will shape global politics,” he added: “As a German and European, we must deepen strategic partnerships, and Türkiye cannot be excluded.”
“Türkiye is a very important actor in all foreign policy and security matters that concern us," he added.
He vowed that Germany will pursue closer cooperation with Türkiye on security policy.
Situation in Middle East
Noting that the Middle East was also discussed, Merz said: The release of hostages and progress on the ceasefire is very positive. For the first time, there is hope for lasting peace.”
Thanking Erdogan for Türkiye’s role in fostering peace in Gaza, he added: “This process would not have been possible without Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and the US. Thank you for making it happen.”
Merz underlined that Germany will do its utmost to maintain peace, noting that German officers have been deployed to a civilian-military center in southern Israel for the first time. He underlined the need for rapid humanitarian improvements in Gaza, calling for an international security presence and governance without the Palestinian group Hamas.
Merz described Israel’s wave of violence in Gaza after Oct.7, 2023, as a “right to self-defense” and expressed hope that the process could conclude under the 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
He further said that a lasting peace in Gaza cannot involve Hamas.
On a question about whether Germany’s unwavering support for Israel is due to its guilt over the Holocaust, Merz said: “The federal government has stood by Israel since its founding. It has become a refuge for millions of Jews, many of whom survived the Holocaust. Germany will always stand with Israel. This does not mean we support every government decision without criticism; previous governments have also voiced concerns.”
Erdogan said Hamas “has neither bombs nor nuclear weapons, but Israel does,” adding that Israel used them to strike Gaza yesterday. “Germany, don’t you see this?” he asked.
Türkiye's Eurofighter procurement
Merz expressed satisfaction with Türkiye’s decision to purchase Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
“We agree on one point — these aircraft will serve our shared security,” he stated.
“We will launch a renewed strategic dialogue and engage in closer cooperation in the field of security policies — for example, on the purchase of Eurofighter aircraft, which we have mentioned before.
“I would also like to note that this partnership offers numerous opportunities. For instance, we may see significant developments in areas such as transportation and railways,” he further said.
Merz said that as NATO allies, Germany and Türkiye share the same interests, adding: “Russia’s militant revisionism poses a threat to the security of Europe and the Atlantic region as a whole. For this reason, we are firmly implementing the decisions taken at the NATO summit in The Hague.”
Recalling that the issue of migration was also discussed during the talks, Merz stated that the cooperation between the two nations is “extremely important.”
“We intend to continue the collaboration we have established in recent months. In May alone, we carried out more returns than in all of 2024, but we still need to make further progress, and our teams will continue working on this,” he noted.
Merz said that in the new geopolitical environment, closer cooperation is only logical, adding that a mature Türkiye-Germany partnership must address sensitive issues openly and with trust, something both sides did in their talks.
“Let us better harness the extraordinary potential of our relations in the years ahead,” he said.
Referring to the Labor Agreement between Türkiye and Germany, marking its 64th anniversary today, Merz expressed his gratitude to those who came to Germany to work, saying that without these people, “Germany would not have been able to achieve its economic development in the same way 60 years ago.”
Russia-Ukraine war
The meeting addressed global crises, said Merz, adding that Berlin and Ankara are in agreement on the need for the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible.
Referring to Trump's statements that Russia should accept a ceasefire and talks based on the current frontlines, Merz said he updated Erdogan on the talks within the EU.
Merz also highlighted progress on arming Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets.
“The EU and the US are considering sanctions simultaneously. Subsequently, of course, the UN needs to enforce these sanctions.
We are determined to implement them and ensure they are not bypassed. We will also make progress in bringing Russia to the negotiating table,” he added.
US-China talks
When asked about the agreement reached between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting in South Korea, Merz said he did not yet know the details.
He noted that tensions over tariffs affect the entire world and underlined that regulations on the export of certain raw materials also impact Germany.
Merz expressed hope that a lasting solution could be achieved, and criticized economic imbalances caused by tariffs as they are not the right way forward.
Rising xenophobia in Europe
Responding to a question about increasing xenophobia in Europe, Merz stated that Germany and Europe fight it “regardless of the cause.”
He underlined that Germany is an open, free, and liberal country, where both Christians and Muslims are protected under the constitution.
Merz added that Germany is responsible for protecting all people without discrimination based on religion or ethnicity, and that everyone can equally enjoy these rights.
