Scholz and Erdogan to discuss migration, Ukraine and Eurofighter deal in Istanbul

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Istanbul on Friday for a high-level meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The talks, scheduled for Saturday, will cover a range of significant topics including migration, the war in Ukraine, and a potential Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet deal between Türkiye and European nations.

The meeting follows an earlier encounter between the two leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September.

Migration and EU-Türkiye cooperation

One of the key agenda items is expected to be the issue of migration, a topic of ongoing importance in both Türkiye and Germany.

Chancellor Scholz has expressed the need for continued cooperation between the European Union and Türkiye to manage migration flows. Recent reports in the German media have suggested that an agreement was reached for Türkiye to accept 500 asylum-seekers weekly, a claim that Türkiye has denied.

Eurofighter Typhoon discussions

The potential sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye is also expected to be a prominent topic. While Germany had previously expressed concerns about the sale, the deal is under negotiation, with the U.K. acting as the lead country in discussions.

Scholz stated that the matter is still at an early stage and will require further negotiations between the Turkish and British governments.

This comes after claims that conditions were being attached to the sale regarding the airspace over the Aegean Sea, which Türkiye has firmly rejected.

Ukraine conflict and diplomatic mediation

The ongoing war in Ukraine will also be discussed, with Scholz and Erdogan expected to explore diplomatic paths to ending the conflict.

Germany has reportedly indicated that Türkiye could play a crucial role in facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine. There have even been rumors in Russian media that Scholz might use this visit to convey a dialogue message from Russian President Vladimir Putin via Erdogan.