Merz Suggested Turkey Deepen Bilateral Relations
- 30.10.2025, 21:53
The German Chancellor has arrived on his first official visit to Turkey.
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested that Turkey should deepen bilateral relations and develop a strategic partnership despite existing differences. During his first visit to Ankara as head of the German government on Thursday, October 30, Merz called the NATO ally an indispensable partner and an important player in virtually all foreign policy and security issues, DW reported.
In a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he stressed that there was no alternative to Germany and Europe's strong strategic partnership with the country and proposed a strategic dialogue with Ankara at the European level.
At the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said. "Let's make even better use of the enormous potential of our relations in the coming months and years. - He urged at a joint press conference with Erdogan. - And there are good reasons for this, as we are entering a new geopolitical phase defined by the policies of the big powers."
Economic potential and cooperation on migration
In addition, Germany and Europe must "make better use of the economic opportunities that are embedded in this partnership," the chancellor said confidently. Among other things, Merz pointed to the importance of cooperation with Turkey on the return of migrants, and the goal of both countries is "further progress in this area."
In the press conference, Merz did not directly mention the topic of the persecution of Erdogan's opponents in Turkey and the case of the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu.
Talking about the prospects for Turkey's accession to the EU, he expressed "concern" over the existence of controversial issues. In particular, the problem of the independence of the judiciary in Turkey is not in line with EU expectations, it is "the subject of ongoing discussions," he said. Merz pointed to the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership and said that Turkey has made decisions that do not meet the standards of the rule of law and democracy
At the same time, Merz emphasized that he considers Turkey "closely linked to the European Union" and would like to see its rapprochement with Europe.
A discussion between Merz and Erdogan took place at the press conference on the topic of Israel and the war in the Gaza Strip. Merz made a statement in support of Israel, after which Erdogan accused the Israeli authorities of "genocide."
Merz, who arrived in Turkey the previous evening, met with civil society representatives outside the official program of his visit at the residence of the FRG ambassador. Prior to the visit, representatives of several parties called on the chancellor to raise the issue of respect for democratic principles and human rights under Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian rule.