BERLIN 

Türkiye is a long-standing and reliable NATO ally and should be included in the EU's new defense programs, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Friday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Berlin, Wadephul said they view Türkiye as an important "geostrategic partner" and would like to turn a "new page" in relations.

"I firmly believe the EU's SAFE program must be opened to Türkiye and the United Kingdom as important NATO partners," he said, referring to the EU's €150 billion ($173 billion) joint defense procurement program to boost European defense capabilities, using the acronym for Security Action for Europe.

"We are engaged in constructive talks on this matter. As I have already emphasized, Türkiye has always been a very reliable and stable NATO partner. As the German government, we have been seeking to take our bilateral relationship to a new level and, in particular, to strengthen the security aspect," he said.

Wadephul also noted that the EU's goal of boosting its defense capabilities is meant to complement and strengthen NATO, not replace it.

Strategic dialogue with Türkiye

On bilateral relations, Wadephul emphasized the deep historical and cultural bonds between Germany and Türkiye.

He noted that more than 3 million Turks live in Germany and have become integral to German society, adding that few countries share such close social ties.

"Beyond this close connection, there's another reason for our cooperation: the new geopolitical reality we face today. As NATO allies, Germany and Türkiye share very tangible common interests," Wadephul said.

He also announced that Berlin and Ankara will revive their "strategic dialogue" mechanism at the foreign ministry level early next year.

A ‘new chapter’ in EU-Türkiye ties

Discussing EU-Türkiye relations, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany's support for closer cooperation and said Berlin is ready to take steps to accelerate Türkiye's stalled EU membership process.

"Türkiye has become a key partner in many areas, so it's clearly in our interest to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Türkiye. If Türkiye wants to join the EU—and I understand its desire to do so—then it will have a reliable and friendly partner in Germany," the minister said.

"Of course, it's up to Türkiye to decide whether it wants to pursue this path or not. However, I believe we—as the European Union—should also reach out to Türkiye and strengthen our channels of communication. Now is the time to turn a new page," Wadephul added.