In a week marked by diplomatic high drama and shifting alliances, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stood side by side in Ankara on October 30, 2025, for a joint press conference that revealed as much about their differences as their common ground. The meeting, Merz’s first visit to Turkey as Chancellor, came against a backdrop of regional turmoil, ambitious defense deals, and fierce debate over the ongoing war in Gaza.
Chancellor Merz, addressing reporters, began on a conciliatory note. "I personally, and the German government, see Turkey as a close partner of the European Union. We want to continue to facilitate the path to Europe," he declared, according to statements reported by multiple outlets including Pamfleti and The Algemeiner. Turkey, after decades of seeking EU membership, welcomed the overture, but Erdogan’s ambitions stretched far beyond Brussels. The Turkish leader has been assertively expanding his country’s influence across the Middle East, deepening military ties with Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf states, and openly seeking a pivotal role in post-war Gaza reconstruction.
Yet, the press conference quickly turned tense as the two leaders sparred over the conflict in Gaza. Erdogan accused Germany of "showing ignorance towards Israel’s genocide in Gaza," referencing the mounting civilian death toll and devastation caused by Israeli military operations. "More than 60,000 women, children and elderly people had been murdered by Israel’s bombs and weapons, which again struck Gaza last night," Erdogan said, his frustration palpable. "Don’t you see these things in Germany? Aren’t you following them?" he pressed, according to The Algemeiner and Pamfleti.
Merz, however, held firm in his government’s stance. He reiterated Germany’s support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which saw 251 hostages taken. "Israel exercised its right to self-defense, and it would have taken only one decision to avoid countless unnecessary casualties. Hamas should have released the hostages earlier and laid down its arms, then this war would have ended immediately," Merz stated. He also thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s role in brokering the October 10 truce, expressing hope that Ankara could persuade Hamas to honor the ceasefire agreement, but acknowledged the situation remained fragile.
The Gaza debate wasn’t the only flashpoint. Erdogan and Merz discussed migration, with the EU’s annual funding of Turkey’s border management still a contentious issue. Germany is seeking further cooperation from Ankara, especially on the repatriation of failed asylum seekers, and is looking to resume deportations to Syria. To that end, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made a notable visit to Damascus on the same day, meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa—an effort to secure Turkey’s support given its close ties to Damascus.
Defense cooperation took center stage with Merz hailing Turkey’s decision to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a move he said would "bolster the military alliance in the face of the threat from Russia." The deal, confirmed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer just days earlier, is seen as a significant boost to NATO’s collective security. "These aircraft will serve the collective security of the alliance," Merz asserted, underscoring the strategic importance of the acquisition. Turkey, meanwhile, is also seeking Germany’s help in gaining access to the EU’s 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, though Greek opposition threatens to block Ankara’s participation.
But the relationship between Ankara and Berlin is far from uncomplicated. Merz did not shy away from addressing concerns about Turkey’s domestic politics, particularly issues of judicial independence and the rule of law. The jailing of Istanbul’s opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in what critics describe as a politically motivated probe was raised directly. "I have also expressed my concern that there are issues here that do not meet our expectations, for example with regard to the independence of the judiciary. But that is the subject of the discussions we are having with each other," Merz said, echoing calls from Human Rights Watch and referencing Turkey’s slip to 118th place in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index.
The timing of Merz’s visit was notable. On the same day, The Economist published a scathing article titled "Turkey’s President is Moving Towards the Destruction of Democracy," and Human Rights Watch’s Philipp Frisch urged the German Chancellor not to ignore what he termed Ankara’s attacks on rights and democracy. An academic study, meanwhile, warned that the European Court of Human Rights risked legitimizing Turkey’s authoritarian turn by deferring too readily to national authorities.
While the German leader was careful to emphasize Turkey’s value as a partner—particularly in the realms of migration, defense, and economic cooperation—he stopped short of endorsing Ankara’s long-standing desire for full EU membership. Instead, he highlighted areas for "further progress" and the need for "concrete steps" on issues ranging from migration to judicial reform.
Beyond the bilateral drama, Turkey’s regional ambitions are raising eyebrows across the Middle East and beyond. Ankara’s recent memorandum of understanding with Syria, expanding military cooperation and training, has shifted the balance of power in the region. Syrian armed forces have begun training at Turkish facilities and are set to attend Turkish military academies, even as Syria negotiates a possible security agreement with Israel involving a joint Israeli–Syrian–American oversight committee.
Turkey’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has been extended for two more years, with a stated goal of supporting the Lebanese army’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah and restore stability. Turkish officials announced, "Ongoing efforts will focus on enhancing security in the region, promoting stability, and supporting the development of the Lebanese armed forces, with the goal of fostering and sustaining peace in Lebanon." Yet, Erdogan’s condemnation of Israeli operations against Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and his continued defense of Hamas—describing its fighters as "resistance fighters"—have alarmed both Israel and Gulf states, who worry that Turkey’s involvement in Gaza’s reconstruction could strengthen Hamas’s grip on the enclave.
Despite Erdogan’s insistence that Turkey is "ready to provide all kinds of support to Gaza," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has flatly rejected any Turkish participation in an international stabilization force, calling it a "red line." Gulf states have also voiced unease about Turkish and Qatari roles in Gaza’s post-war future. The United States, for its part, has made clear that any peacekeeping force will be coordinated closely with Israel, ensuring that no foreign troops are included without Israeli consent.
Turkey’s diplomatic push extends beyond its southern borders. High-level meetings with Iran have resulted in pledges to deepen bilateral cooperation on security, development, and stability. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of "deepening mutual cooperation to strengthen security, development, and stability for both countries and the region." Meanwhile, Ankara is also enhancing defense ties with Saudi Arabia, signing new agreements and joint training initiatives, as Turkey’s ambassador to Riyadh underscored a shared commitment to "peace, stability, and international law."
As Erdogan continues his diplomatic offensive—including a recent tour through Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman—the Turkish president is clearly positioning his country as a central player in the region’s shifting power dynamics. Whether these ambitions will be met with partnership or resistance from Europe, Israel, and the wider international community remains very much an open question.
In the days following the Ankara summit, the world watched as Turkey’s assertive foreign policy and Germany’s careful balancing act played out on the international stage—a reminder that even old alliances must constantly adapt to new realities.
