The Turkish President’s office denied claims by the main opposition CHP party that Turkey is willing to take back asylum seekers from Germany in exchange for Eurofighter jets. The Turkish Presidency Communications Director dismissed these accusations as “complete lies.”
During a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey’s doors are open to refugees fleeing war in the Middle East. The opposition linked Erdogan’s comments to ongoing negotiations for Eurofighter jets.
The Eurofighter negotiations are part of Turkey’s efforts to modernize its fighter jet fleet following its expulsion from the F-35 program. Scholz mentioned that the initiative to supply Turkey with Eurofighter jets is in early stages and being driven by Britain.
The tension-fraught process began in 2019 when the US removed Turkey from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. The situation continues to evolve, with potential developments on the horizon.