Human Rights Watch urged Merz to condemn Turkey’s repression of the opposition and the detention of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Germany Seeks Stronger Ties with Turkey
Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a deeper strategic alliance with Turkey to face global challenges. During his first official trip to Ankara, he praised Turkey’s role in mediating the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Standing beside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Merz spoke days after Turkey and the United Kingdom sealed a multi-billion-euro deal to sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Germany, part of the manufacturing consortium, recently withdrew its objection to exporting the aircraft to Turkey.
Merz’s trip coincided with reports that Germany supports Turkey’s involvement in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion defence programme boosting Europe’s military strength. The plan permits non-EU countries, including Turkey, to take part. Greece opposes Turkey’s inclusion, insisting Ankara first abandon its war threat tied to maritime border disputes.
Merz did not discuss SAFE directly but emphasised collaboration. He urged both countries to harness the full potential of their ties. He argued that global power politics demand stronger strategic partnerships and declared that Europe cannot advance without a closer alliance with Turkey.
Clashes Over Rights and Regional Conflicts
Tensions surfaced during the joint press event over human rights and Gaza. Human Rights Watch again pressed Merz to denounce Turkey’s crackdown and İmamoğlu’s imprisonment. The opposition leader, seen as a rival to Erdoğan, has remained in custody since March on corruption charges he denies. Turkish authorities recently accused him of espionage.
Merz avoided naming İmamoğlu but stated that Turkey’s recent decisions fall short of European standards for democracy and the rule of law. Erdoğan defended Turkey’s judiciary, saying that authorities must act whenever anyone violates the law, regardless of status.
On Gaza, Merz reaffirmed Germany’s enduring support for Israel since the Holocaust while noting that such support does not prevent criticism of Israeli policies. He reiterated that Israel has the right to self-defence and claimed that Hamas could have ended the conflict by freeing hostages and disarming.
Erdoğan condemned Israel’s military actions, accusing it of using “starvation and genocide” as tactics of war. He argued that Hamas lacks bombs and nuclear weapons while Israel holds both, and he criticised Germany for ignoring this disparity. “As Germany, can’t you see this?” he asked.
