Erdogan and Scholz call for cease-fire in Gaza, strengthen defense cooperation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Istanbul on Saturday, calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and discussing broader cooperation on defense and migration issues.

The joint press conference followed a series of high-level discussions between the two NATO allies, marking a significant moment in Turkish-German relations as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of their friendship treaty.

Erdogan and Scholz agree on cease-fire in Gaza, 2-state solution

At the heart of the discussions was the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where both leaders called for an immediate cease-fire to halt the violence and address the humanitarian crisis. Erdogan condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, urging the international community to increase pressure on Israel to end its military operations.

“We expect the international community to take action and say ‘stop’ to Israel’s aggressive policies. The region will not find peace as long as these massacres continue,” said Erdogan, highlighting that more than 50,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Scholz echoed Erdogan’s sentiments, stressing the need for a de-escalation and reiterating Germany’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“A cease-fire and de-escalation are necessary to prevent the conflict from spreading further,” said Scholz.

Strengthened cooperation on defense

In addition to the Gaza cease-fire, defense industry collaboration was another key topic on the agenda. Erdogan noted that past difficulties in defense procurement with Germany had been overcome, and both countries are now looking forward to further strengthening ties in this area.

Scholz also confirmed that Germany had recently approved arms sales to Türkiye and that more cooperation on defense was expected in the future.

Migration and terrorism

Migration, particularly the influx of refugees from conflict zones, was another major point of discussion. Scholz emphasized the importance of cooperation between Türkiye and the European Union to manage migration flows and ensure stability in the region.

Both leaders also addressed the growing issue of far-right extremism and terrorism in Europe, particularly the threats posed by groups like PKK and FETO.

“We are determined to continue our joint efforts against terrorism, both in Germany and Türkiye,” Erdogan stated, highlighting the shared security concerns between the two countries.

Focus on economic growth

Erdogan and Scholz also discussed strengthening bilateral trade and investment. Currently, Turkish-German trade stands at $50 billion, with both leaders setting a goal of increasing this figure to $60 billion.

They emphasized the potential for cooperation in areas such as energy and technology, with Erdogan noting that over 3.5 million Turks live in Germany, further solidifying the strong ties between the two nations.