Overview
- The chancellor was received with military honors, held bilateral talks, and appeared jointly before the press in the presidential palace.
- Merz highlighted defense cooperation, noting Germany’s approval for Turkey to buy 20 Eurofighter jets as supporting NATO security.
- Talks addressed Gaza diplomacy, the war in Ukraine, migration and returns, and Ankara’s bid to enter the EU Safe defense program despite Greek objections.
- Merz scheduled no meetings with opposition figures as NGOs and German politicians urged him to raise rule‑of‑law concerns after a new warrant for Ekrem İmamoğlu.
- The visit began with a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum and included an evening invitation for the Merz and Erdoğan couples, signaling a conciliatory tone without concrete agreements.