Munich moment: Has Germany finally reframed its strategic view of Türkiye?

A speech in Munich has reignited debate over Europe’s strategic future and its relationship with Türkiye. In a column published by Daily Sabah, the author argues that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference signal a notable shift in Berlin’s approach toward Ankara — one grounded less in values-based conditionality and more in strategic realism.

Writing in Daily Sabah, the columnist Doğan Eşkinat contends that Merz did more than lament the erosion of the “rules-based international order.” By openly stating that “power politics and major-power competition are back,” the German leader acknowledged a reality long emphasised by Turkish policymakers.

According to the article, what made the speech significant was not the diagnosis itself — Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s assertiveness and volatility in U.S. foreign policy have already underscored that shift — but the fact that a German chancellor publicly embraced it.

The column argues that for Türkiye, the subtext of Merz’s remarks carries particular weight. Germany has historically framed ties with Ankara through the lens of value alignment, EU accession benchmarks and political conditionality.

Merz’s assertion that strategic partnerships “do not require complete value alignment” represents a meaningful departure from that approach. It reflects a tacit acceptance of Türkiye’s long-standing position that effective cooperation must rest on shared interests and mutual respect rather than ideological conformity.

The article highlights the breadth of shared interests between Europe and Türkiye. It notes Türkiye’s geographic position at the crossroads of key security challenges, including migration, energy transit, counterterrorism and Black Sea stability. As a NATO member with the alliance’s second-largest army and a growing indigenous defence industry, Türkiye offers what Eşkinat describes as “strategic depth” that Europe cannot easily replicate.

Defence cooperation is presented as a particularly vivid example. The article points to a recent NATO exercise, Steadfast Dart 2026, during which a Bayraktar TB3 drone launched from TCG Anadolu carried out a precision strike in the Baltic Sea. This marked the first operational use of a shipborne combat drone in a NATO context.

The capability, the article argues, stems from Türkiye’s early 2000s decision to invest in domestic defence production. The piece also references Baykar’s joint production partnership with Italy’s Leonardo as evidence that Turkish defence expertise is increasingly integrated into European supply chains.

Still, Eşkinat cautions against overinterpretation. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to NATO and the transatlantic alliance. The shift is not a rejection of the West but an acknowledgment that existing structures may be insufficient to address emerging geopolitical risks. In that recalibration, Türkiye appears as one important partner among several.

The columnist urges Turkish policymakers to respond with “strategic seriousness,” proposing concrete cooperation in defence, energy security and migration management. At the same time, the article argues that European leaders must back rhetoric with tangible steps, including modernising the 1995 customs union framework and delivering long-promised visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens.

Ultimately, the Daily Sabah column frames Munich 2026 as a broader moment of European self-reflection. Merz’s willingness to name Türkiye as part of the solution suggests a Europe beginning to adapt to an era defined less by ideals and more by power politics — a shift that could reshape a relationship long marked by tension and mistrust.

By Sabina Mammadli