Why is Germany blocking Türkiye’s Eurofighter deal after the F-35 setbacks? Analysis of Daily Sabah’s article

The Turkish newspaper, Daily Sabah, has published an article describing the reasons behind Germany’s veto on sales of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye following setbacks in the American F-35 program. Caliber.Az offers its audience an in-depth analysis of this piece.

Türkiye’s pursuit of Eurofighter Typhoon jets represents more than just a defence procurement decision—it reflects the broader realignment of its air power strategy following exclusion from the U.S.-led F-35 program. This pivot underscores Ankara’s intent to diversify military partnerships while accelerating the development of its domestic defence industry. Yet, the path to acquiring Eurofighters has been hindered by persistent political obstacles, particularly from Germany, exposing the fault lines within Europe’s defence consortium and the geopolitical frictions shaping arms deals in the 21st century.

A strategic void post-F-35

Türkiye’s expulsion from the F-35 program—following its procurement of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system—created a strategic void in its air force modernisation plans. Seeking to maintain parity with regional adversaries and NATO allies, Ankara turned to alternative platforms, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, a battle-proven, multirole aircraft developed by a four-nation European consortium.

The Eurofighter appeals to Türkiye for several reasons: it offers advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, a proven track record in export markets, and the political advantage of deepening ties with key European states like the U.K., Spain, and Italy. These countries, especially the U.K. and Italy, have been receptive to Ankara’s overtures. However, progress remains stalled due to Germany’s veto power within the consortium.

Germany's veto: A signal to partners and Ankara

Germany’s resistance reflects more than national hesitancy—it sends a dual message. First, it asserts Berlin’s desire to maintain control over arms export decisions within the Eurofighter consortium. Second, it signals disapproval of Türkiye’s geopolitical behaviour, especially in Syria, the Eastern Mediterranean, and its strained relations with Greece and Cyprus. Germany's stance exemplifies its increasingly "values-based" foreign policy—driven by domestic political calculations and moral considerations—but one that is not consistently applied across all countries.

This divergence within the consortium exposes fault lines in European strategic unity. While the U.K., Italy, and Spain view Türkiye as a valuable NATO ally and economic partner, Germany remains constrained by domestic political dynamics, including coalition politics involving the Greens and Left Party, both critical of Ankara.

Domestic and diaspora politics

Berlin’s position is further shaped by influential diaspora and lobbying networks within Germany. Armenian, Greek, and pro-PKK groups have successfully mobilised public opinion and exerted pressure on political parties, particularly the Greens, to adopt a hardline stance on arms sales to Türkiye. These groups frame Türkiye’s regional posture and internal governance as incompatible with European values, thereby complicating defence cooperation.

Germany’s role thus extends beyond a defence partner to a gatekeeper of political legitimacy in the European arms market—leveraging its influence to shape the behaviour of partner states, even at the cost of intra-consortium cohesion.

Consequences and Türkiye's strategic realignment

Germany’s continued obstruction is already having long-term consequences. It is reinforcing Türkiye’s strategic pivot toward self-sufficiency. The intensification of domestic defence programs, most notably the KAAN National Combat Aircraft project, signals Ankara’s resolve to reduce dependency on Western suppliers. In the short term, Türkiye is also strengthening bilateral defense ties with more amenable partners like the U.K. and Italy, aiming to bypass German roadblocks where possible.

Ironically, Germany’s effort to constrain Türkiye may have the opposite effect—by accelerating indigenous innovation, pushing Türkiye closer to non-Western defence partners, and weakening cohesion within Europe’s collective defence initiatives. For Berlin, the risk lies in isolating a key NATO ally at a time when the alliance faces growing threats on multiple fronts.

Conclusion

Germany’s veto of the Eurofighter sale to Türkiye is not merely a technical or procedural issue—it is a reflection of deeper ideological, geopolitical, and domestic political forces. While the German position is rooted in concerns over Ankara’s regional behaviour and internal politics, it reveals a broader tension between strategic pragmatism and values-driven policy in European defence collaboration.

As Türkiye continues to assert itself regionally and deepen its defence capabilities—both through external partnerships and indigenous development—the Eurofighter impasse may come to symbolise the limits of political alignment within the NATO framework. In the long run, Ankara’s growing resolve to stand independently may reshape the future of defence procurement and regional military balances in Europe and the Middle East.

By Khagan Isayev