German President Steinmeier to visit Türkiye for talks on defense ties

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, with discussions expected to focus on defense industry cooperation, Türkiye’s Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun announced.

Bilateral relations and defense cooperation

Altun stated on X that Türkiye-Germany relations will be addressed in all aspects, with both sides expected to explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation in the defense sector.

The Eurofighter sale is likely to be a key issue during the talks, as Germany’s final approval is required for the deal to proceed. While the U.K., Spain, and Italy have already signed off on the sale, Germany’s authorization remains pending.

Recently, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that technical discussions were still ongoing and that Türkiye’s proposal was under review.

The approval process has gained momentum after Germany appointed a Temporary Sales Authority for the aircraft, a step expected to expedite the procurement.

Türkiye is currently waiting for a price proposal for the possible acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon jets after submitting a list outlining its technical needs to Britain’s defense ministry, a Turkish Defence Ministry source recently said.

In this context, the requirement definition document for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft has been sent to the U.K. Ministry of Defense and the relevant company. We expect the price proposal to reach us in the coming days.

Turkish MoD

Türkiye-EU relations and Turkish community in Germany

Altun also noted that the meeting will include discussions on Türkiye-EU relations and regional issues.

The status of the Turkish community in Germany is another topic on the agenda, reflecting the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

“We believe that the long-standing and deep-rooted bilateral relations between Türkiye and Germany will be further strengthened through this visit,” Altun said.