Türkiye ready to enhance relations with Germany, Erdogan tells Scholz

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to enhancing its “deep-rooted” relations with Germany during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday. The discussions took place at the Turkish House, coinciding with the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Erdogan highlighted the ongoing efforts between Türkiye and Germany to strengthen cooperation across various sectors, stating, “Türkiye is ready for steps that will benefit both countries.” The dialogue also covered critical topics including the ongoing violence in Palestine, the revitalization of Türkiye’s European Union membership process, and broader regional and global issues.

Erdogan called for renewed momentum in Türkiye-EU relations, urging Germany to support the resolution of visa issues affecting Turkish citizens. Turkish officials have expressed frustration over lengthy visa processing times, often resulting in short-duration visas or outright denials without explanation.

In discussing recent developments in the Middle East, Erdogan criticized Israel’s military actions in Palestine, characterizing them as part of a broader attempt to expand a “cycle of violence” while disregarding international law and human rights. He asserted that “the support of Western countries, in particular for Israel, caused unprecedented massacres in Gaza and made Israel even more reckless.”