German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss migration, defense cooperation during Türkiye visit

Scholz is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels following an EU summit, Scholz emphasized that the talks will focus on bilateral relations and EU-Türkiye cooperation.

"Migration is always a key issue, and it is both right and reasonable that the European Union and Türkiye work together on this," Scholz remarked. He reiterated his support for extending the 2016 EU-Türkiye migration agreement, which had significantly curbed irregular refugee flows into Europe through the Aegean Sea.

The chancellor acknowledged Ankara's criticism of the EU's failure to fully honor its commitments under the agreement, including promises to accelerate Türkiye’s EU accession process, modernize the Customs Union, and grant visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen zone.

Scholz stated that discussions with President Erdoğan will also cover the broader scope of EU-Türkiye cooperation, including strengthening economic ties and promoting regional stability.

Additionally, when asked about Türkiye’s interest in purchasing Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Scholz confirmed that defense cooperation will be on the agenda. "We always discuss the supply of weapons to our NATO partners," he said, noting that the UK is currently in negotiations with Türkiye regarding the potential sale of the Eurofighters. While the discussions are in early stages, Germany has not yet given its final approval for the deal.

The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are a joint production of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and their potential sale marks a significant point in defense cooperation between Türkiye and its NATO allies. (ILKHA)