Overview
- On his inaugural visit to Ankara, Chancellor Friedrich Merz received military honors and held talks focused on migration, defense ties, Gaza diplomacy and the Ukraine war.
- At a joint press conference, Erdoğan again accused Israel of genocide, while Merz reaffirmed Germany’s solidarity with Israel and urged Turkey to use its leverage on Hamas to advance the ceasefire’s next phase.
- Merz praised the breadth of bilateral ties, welcomed Turkey’s purchase of 20 Eurofighter jets as bolstering NATO security, and voiced support for closer EU-level engagement while citing Copenhagen criteria on democracy and rule of law.
- Merz did not meet opposition figures, drawing criticism from rights groups and German politicians as a new arrest warrant against jailed Istanbul ex-mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sharpened concerns over judicial independence.
- The visit mixed ceremony and personal diplomacy, including Charlotte Merz’s attendance at Emine Erdoğan’s invitation and a leaders’ dinner aimed at fostering a constructive atmosphere for follow-on work.