On October 30, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz landed in Ankara for his first official visit as chancellor, setting the stage for a high-stakes diplomatic encounter with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The timing was anything but coincidental: just days before, Turkey and the United Kingdom had finalized a multi-billion-euro deal for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets—a transaction that, until recently, had been blocked by Germany itself. With Berlin finally lifting its longstanding objection to the sale, the visit symbolized a pivotal moment in German-Turkish relations, one with implications far beyond bilateral ties.
According to the Associated Press, Merz’s trip was underscored by his call for Europe to forge a deeper strategic partnership with Turkey. “Germany and Turkey should use the enormous potential of our relations even better in the coming months and years,” Merz remarked during a joint press conference, standing shoulder to shoulder with Erdoğan. He continued, “There are compelling reasons for this, because we are entering a new geopolitical phase marked by the politics of great powers. A central conclusion from that for me is that as Germans and Europeans, we must expand our strategic partnerships, and there is no way around a good and deepened partnership with Turkey.”
Merz’s comments arrived at a time when Turkey has assumed a crucial mediating role in two of the world’s most volatile conflicts: Ukraine and Gaza. European officials have increasingly recognized Ankara’s ability to act as a diplomatic bridge, even as tensions persist over Turkey’s internal politics and its relations with neighboring Greece. The Eurofighter deal itself is emblematic of this complex dynamic. Germany, as one of the main manufacturers in the Eurofighter consortium, had previously blocked fighter jet exports to Turkey due to concerns over human rights and regional security. The recent reversal signals a shift, one that some analysts view as a pragmatic response to the continent’s shifting security landscape.
But the Eurofighter agreement was just one piece of a broader puzzle. Merz’s visit coincided with reports—confirmed by multiple outlets including Human Rights Watch and the Associated Press—of German backing for Turkey’s participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion initiative aimed at bolstering the continent’s military capabilities. SAFE is notable for opening its doors to non-EU countries, including Turkey, for the first time. While Berlin’s support for Ankara’s involvement is seen as a potential boon for European defense, it has also reignited old rivalries. Greece, which remains locked in a bitter dispute with Turkey over maritime boundaries and has faced threats of war from Ankara, has openly opposed Turkey’s participation in the program. Greek officials argue that Turkey must first drop its aggressive posture before it can be trusted as a partner in European security projects.
During the press conference, Merz chose his words carefully, sidestepping direct mention of SAFE but emphasizing the broader need for cooperation. “We are entering a new geopolitical phase marked by the politics of great powers,” he reiterated, underscoring the necessity of strategic partnerships in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Yet, the diplomatic niceties quickly gave way to more contentious issues. Human Rights Watch, in the days leading up to Merz’s visit, had publicly called on the chancellor to address Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on political opposition. The focal point of this criticism was the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure widely seen as a potential challenger to Erdoğan. İmamoğlu has been held in pretrial detention since March on corruption charges, which he denies. Just this week, Turkish authorities filed new charges against him for alleged espionage. The timing of these developments—coinciding with Merz’s visit—was not lost on observers.
Merz, for his part, avoided naming İmamoğlu directly but did not shy away from expressing concern. “Decisions have been made in Turkey that do not yet meet the requirements regarding the rule of law and democracy as we understand them from the European point of view,” he stated, as reported by the Associated Press. This measured criticism drew a swift response from Erdoğan, who mounted a staunch defense of Turkey’s judiciary. “No matter what position you hold, if you trample on the law, judicial authorities in a state governed by the rule of law are obliged to take whatever action is necessary,” Erdoğan countered, making clear that Ankara would not tolerate what it sees as interference in its internal affairs.
The conversation then turned to the conflict in Gaza—a topic that has sharply divided European and Turkish leaders. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s historic support for Israel, rooted in the country’s post-Holocaust commitment to the Jewish state. “Germany has stood firmly by Israel since it was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust and will always do so,” Merz said. However, he also made it clear that this allegiance does not equate to unconditional support for every Israeli government action. “That doesn’t mean that we respect or accept every political decision by an Israeli government and accept it without criticism,” he explained.
Merz has, in fact, been a vocal critic of some of Israel’s recent actions in Gaza. On Thursday, he pointedly remarked, “Israel made use of its right of self-defense, and it would have taken only a single decision to avoid the countless unnecessary victims: Hamas should have released the hostages earlier and laid down its weapons. Then this war would have been over immediately.” This statement, according to the Associated Press, reflects a nuanced position—one that acknowledges both Israel’s right to defend itself and the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict.
Erdoğan, for his part, was unflinching in his criticism of Israel’s military campaign. He accused Israel of using “starvation and genocide” as weapons of war, a claim he has made repeatedly in recent months. The Turkish president also seized the opportunity to highlight what he sees as a glaring imbalance between Israel and Hamas. “Hamas does not possess bombs or nuclear weapons, while Israel does,” Erdoğan argued, before turning his attention to Germany. “As Germany, can’t you see this?” he asked, pressing Merz to acknowledge the disparity in firepower and the humanitarian consequences for Palestinians.
These sharp exchanges underscored the persistent divisions between Ankara and Berlin—not just over the Middle East, but over fundamental questions of democracy, human rights, and the future of European security. The visit, while cordial on the surface, revealed the many layers of complexity that define the German-Turkish relationship in 2025.
As Europe faces mounting global challenges, the stakes of this partnership have never felt higher. With Turkey positioned as both a mediator and a controversial actor on the world stage, and Germany recalibrating its own foreign policy in response to shifting alliances, the path forward is anything but straightforward. For now, both sides appear committed to deepening their ties—however uneasy the alliance may be.
