The Turkish government expects Germany to make progress on the long-discussed purchase of an eventual 40 Eurofighter aircraft, sources familiar with the matter told DPA on Thursday.
Ankara expects “positive signals from Germany” on this issue, the sources said, adding that “technical discussions” are still ongoing. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs declined to comment on questions from dpa.
Turkey hopes to increase its defense capabilities with forty Eurofighter Typhoons. Germany is involved in the production of the Eurofighters and any export deal requires Berlin’s approval.
Turkey has been pushing for German approval for the purchase since last year. Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said at the time that Ankara already had the approval of Britain and Spain, the remaining contractors.
The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported this weekend that the German government may be preparing for a change of course in arms exports to Turkey.
According to Der Spiegel’s report, Berlin has approved arms exports worth several hundred million euros to NATO partner Turkey – including 100 anti-aircraft missiles and torpedoes for the Turkish Navy and material packages for the modernization of Turkish submarines and frigates.
The German Ministry of Economic Affairs did not want to confirm the report when asked.
Until the failed military coup in Turkey in 2016, Germany widely approved arms exports to the country.
German arms exports to Turkey fell significantly to a figure of several million after the attempted coup and the Turkish invasion of northern Syria.
According to the German government, there were approximately 17 Turkish arms import applications worth a total of 1.22 million euros for the whole of 2023.
