19.04.2025, 11:01
Zitat:Germany Vetoes Eurofighter Typhoon Sale to Turkiye
18 Apr 2025, 15:48 4 mins
Germany Turkiye
Air Weapon / Missile Bilateral Relations Regional / Strategy
German Vetoes Eurofighter Typhoon Sale to Turkiye TurDef
Berlin cites concerns the opposition mayor’s arrest as reasons for Eurofighter veto, but international relations might play a role behind closed doors.
Germany has reportedly vetoed the planned export of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkiye, citing democratic concerns and the arrest of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. According to a report by the German daily Handelsblatt, the caretaker federal government, currently led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an acting capacity, blocked the delivery of approximately three dozen fighter jets (TurDef’s note Turkiye wants 40 jets), despite the United Kingdom’s readiness to proceed with the deal.
The move is perceived as a direct response to what Berlin describes as “serious violations of democratic principles” in Turkiye. According to German government sources, a major factor in the choice to deny the export permit was İmamoğlu's arrest on corruption allegations. Opposition parties claim that İmamoğlu's arrest is part of a larger effort to stifle dissent before elections, given his status as a major contender to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
During a visit to Istanbul in October 2024, Chancellor Scholz had defended Eurofighter exports to Turkiye by saying, "Turkiye is a member of NATO, and that is why we repeatedly make decisions that lead to concrete deliveries." Recent events, nevertheless, seem to have changed Berlin's stance.
https://turdef.com/article/germany-vetoe...to-turkiye