Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commended German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, referring to him as his “dear friend”, despite their differences on Israel’s Gaza conflict. Scholz, during his visit to Turkey, rejected Erdogan’s claims of genocide in Gaza and affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense while urging for a ceasefire for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Although Erdogan supported the International Court of Justice’s investigation into Israel for genocide in Gaza, he also appreciated Scholz’s efforts to ease German restrictions on arms sales to Turkey. Ankara aims to secure 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets following delays in receiving American F-16 fighters.
Scholz highlighted the importance of NATO membership for Turkey and assured progress in negotiations for the Eurofighter jets involving the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Berlin recently approved substantial arms shipments to Turkey, including anti-aircraft missiles, despite prior tensions over the S-400 missile system purchase.
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Despite diverse opinions, Erdogan and Scholz share a commitment to navigating diplomatic challenges and cultivating stronger ties between Turkey and Germany.