German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on key issues such as defence cooperation and migration, against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Scholz confirmed that migration will be a central topic of discussion. “The issue of migration is, of course, always one of them,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the EU and Türkiye on this matter.
Another significant topic on the agenda is the proposed sale of Eurofighter jets to Türkiye. Scholz mentioned that Germany and the UK are in early negotiations with the Turkish government regarding the potential sale, as part of broader NATO defence cooperation. The Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly produced by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, is being considered for sale to Türkiye.
Tensions in the Middle East, particularly Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, are also expected to impact the talks. While Scholz’s visit was scheduled prior to recent escalations, Türkiye’s vocal criticism of Israel’s actions—including Erdogan’s strong condemnation comparing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Hitler—may influence the discussions.
In addition to these issues, Scholz emphasized that the trip will provide an opportunity to strengthen EU-Türkiye cooperation, particularly with regard to the 2016 migration agreement aimed at controlling irregular refugee flows into Europe. However, Ankara has frequently criticized the EU for failing to uphold its commitments under this agreement, including promises of visa-free travel and enhanced trade relations with the EU.
Germany, home to the largest Turkish diaspora in Europe, is a key player in maintaining strong bilateral ties with Türkiye amid these complex regional challenges.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
