German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday praised NATO ally Turkey’s purchase of 20 Eurofighter jets, describing the move as a significant boost to the alliance’s strength amid the ongoing threat from Russia.
During their meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced disagreement with Merz over the Gaza conflict, accusing Israel of killing more than 60,000 women, children, and elderly people through continued airstrikes, including attacks that occurred “again last night.”
Merz thanked Erdoğan for Turkey’s role in brokering the October 10 truce and urged Ankara to use its influence to persuade Hamas to engage in the next phase of the agreement, noting that “the situation remains fragile.”
A Turkish defense ministry source said Ankara hopes Berlin will support its bid to participate in the EU’s 150-billion-euro ($176-billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, despite opposition from Greece. The program, designed to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities, requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU members.
Germany has expressed openness to backing Turkey’s inclusion in the scheme. In return, Berlin is seeking greater cooperation from Ankara in accepting rejected asylum seekers and supporting renewed deportations to Syria.
German officials said Merz also aimed to enlist Turkey’s help due to its close relationship with Damascus, where Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his first official visit on Thursday.
