Human Rights Watch urged Friedrich Merz to denounce Turkey’s repression of the opposition and the detention of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Strengthening Strategic Ties
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a stronger strategic alliance with Turkey to address new global challenges. He made the remarks in Ankara during his first official visit, highlighting Turkey’s mediation in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Standing beside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Merz spoke soon after Turkey and the United Kingdom completed a multi-billion-euro deal for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Germany, part of the manufacturing consortium, recently dropped its ban on exporting the jets to Turkey.
Reports indicate that Germany supports Turkey’s entry into the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion defence programme aimed at boosting Europe’s military strength. SAFE permits non-EU countries, including Turkey, to join joint defence ventures. Greece objects, insisting Turkey must first abandon its threat of war over maritime disputes. Merz avoided discussing SAFE but pressed for tighter cooperation.
He said, “Germany and Turkey must use the full potential of our relations in the coming months and years.” He added that a shifting geopolitical order demands broader strategic partnerships, declaring that “Europe cannot avoid a deepened partnership with Turkey.”
Diverging Views on Rights and Gaza
Tensions emerged over human rights and the Gaza conflict. Human Rights Watch again demanded Merz confront Turkey about jailing opposition figures like İmamoğlu, who faces corruption and new espionage charges he rejects. Merz refrained from naming him but warned that Turkey’s recent actions fall short of European democratic standards. Erdoğan defended his courts, insisting that the law must act when anyone violates it.
On Gaza, Merz reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering support for Israel since the Holocaust, while maintaining the right to criticise Israeli policies. He condemned Hamas for prolonging the war by refusing to release hostages or disarm, saying peace would have followed immediately had they done so. Erdoğan countered by accusing Israel of “starvation and genocide,” arguing that Israel’s military power far exceeds Hamas’s and accusing Germany of ignoring this imbalance. “As Germany, can’t you see this?” he asked.
