FM: Türkiye remains strategic partner and close friend of Germany

Türkiye is a strategic partner and a trusted friend of Germany in all areas of foreign policy, and this relationship will continue, German Foreign Minister Wadephul said during a joint press conference following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the Foreign Ministry.

“I have always noticed that we have many common interests. Therefore, Türkiye is not only a NATO partner for us but also a strategic partner and a good friend in all foreign policy matters, and this will remain the case,” Wadephul emphasised.

Highlighting defence cooperation between the two countries, Wadephul noted that their defence industries are actively collaborating:

“There are numerous projects in this field currently underway. Türkiye is a reliable and central NATO partner, so it is only natural that our defence sectors work closely together. After all, who else can we cooperate with but NATO allies?”

He also underlined the need for both governments to make concrete decisions on supply issues, assessing them based on multiple criteria such as price and quality of products required to strengthen their armed forces.

“This applies to all NATO countries. However, from Germany’s perspective, there are no restrictions in this regard. On the contrary, we want to cooperate with Türkiye in every field,” the minister said.

On Türkiye’s EU accession process, Wadephul stated that both Türkiye and the EU have important tasks to fulfil: “We want progress in EU-Türkiye relations. We aim for the renewal of the customs union, the lifting of the visa regime, and, more broadly, a positive agenda. If Türkiye truly seeks EU membership, it will find in Germany a reliable and friendly partner.”

Wadephul stressed the importance of seeing Türkiye’s determination and seriousness regarding EU accession, noting that the process will be challenging and cannot be completed within weeks or months.

By Tamilla Hasanova