Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, stated on Friday that he intends to strengthen cooperation with Turkey, acknowledging its “crucial strategic role within NATO.”

“Turkey is an extremely valuable and important partner for us in NATO, and I will do everything I can to maintain and expand this cooperation,” Merz said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, after their meeting. Merz highlighted that Turkey controls a NATO region of critical strategic importance and noted that during his meeting with Stoltenberg, the role and contribution of Ankara within the alliance were discussed.

Possible Visit to Ankara and Open Question on Eurofighter
According to Anadolu, the German Chancellor also announced plans to visit Ankara soon, responding to an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Regarding defense cooperation projects between the two countries and the potential sale of Eurofighter aircraft to Turkey, Merz confirmed that no decision has yet been made. “We still need to decide within the German federal government whether we will approve the delivery of fighter jets to Turkey,” he told journalists. He added that Germany seeks the closest possible relations with Turkey within NATO, considering Ankara a key ally in the defense alliance.

Turkey, which has the second-largest military force within NATO, plans to acquire 40 Eurofighter aircraft—jets manufactured by a consortium of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain. As a co-producer, Germany must give final approval for the sale. The previous German government expressed reservations about the deal, mainly due to opposition from the Greens, the coalition partner.