Germany halts fighter jet sale to Türkiye over Istanbul mayor’s legal case Photo

Germany has reportedly vetoed a proposed deal to supply Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye, citing concerns linked to the legal case involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

German media outlets say the decision was made by the outgoing government, whose mandate is set to expire in May, Caliber.Az reports, citing Defence Turk.

🔴🇩🇪Almanya'nın Eurofighter Typhoon satışını engellediği iddiası

🔸Almanya'nın 🇹🇷Türkiye'ye Eurofighter Typhoon savaş uçağı tedarikine ilişkin süreci Ekrem İmamoğlu davası sonrasında veto ettiği aktarıldı. Bu kararı alan hükümetin görev süresi Mayıs ayında bitiyor. Yeni… pic.twitter.com/tJbsQNr8om

— Defence Turk (@Defence_Turk) April 17, 2025

It remains unclear whether a new coalition government will maintain the same position.

Meanwhile, sources within Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence have said that the United Kingdom recently submitted a proposal to Ankara regarding the delivery of Eurofighter Typhoons.

The Eurofighter consortium comprises the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and all member states must approve export deals involving the jets.

To recall, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained on March 19, 2025 as part of a corruption investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The inquiry includes allegations of bribery, money laundering, and alleged ties to the outlawed PKK. Alongside İmamoğlu, his media adviser Murat Ongun and several other municipal officials were also taken into custody.

Prior to his arrest, İmamoğlu described the proceedings as “a blow to the national will” and denounced the operation as “a great act of tyranny” in a social media post.

On March 23, İmamoğlu was formally arrested and transferred to Marmara Prison. His legal team contested the arrest, claiming the investigation was politically motivated and lacked legal merit. However, the Istanbul 1st Criminal Court of First Instance rejected their appeal on 14 April.

İmamoğlu was previously sentenced to two years and seven months in prison, along with a five-year political ban, for allegedly insulting members of the Supreme Electoral Council. That verdict remains under appeal.

His arrest has prompted widespread domestic protests and drawn international attention, with critics suggesting the move may be politically charged. İmamoğlu maintains that he is a “victim of judicial persecution” and expects a fair ruling.

By Aghakazim Guliyev