IRIA News

4 minute read

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Istanbul on October 19, 2024, to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders discussed multiple international issues, including the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Despite public disagreements over the characterization of the war, the two leaders maintained a cordial tone throughout the visit, with Erdogan even praising Scholz as his “dear friend.” This was Scholz’s second visit to Turkey since assuming office, reflecting the continued efforts by both nations to navigate complex geopolitical challenges while maintaining strong diplomatic relations.

The Gaza conflict was one of the most striking points of focus in discussion between the two leaders. Scholz made it clear that while Germany supports Israel’s right to self-defense, it must be carried out by international law. However, he rejected Erdogan’s assertion that Israel’s actions amounted to “genocide.”

“Israel has the right to defend itself and must respect international law,” Scholz emphasized during a joint press conference with Erdogan. Scholz further highlighted the need for a ceasefire, stressing, “The possibilities of a ceasefire must now be exploited with the release of the hostages [in the hands of] Hamas.”

Erdogan, however, remained steadfast in his condemnation of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. He claimed that over 50,000 people had been killed, including children, women, and the elderly, accusing Israel of conducting indiscriminate attacks. Turkey has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions and has supported efforts by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to investigate potential war crimes or genocide in Gaza.

While the two leaders differed significantly on their views regarding the Gaza conflict, Erdogan took the opportunity to commend Scholz for his efforts to resolve longstanding defense-related issues between the two countries, notably regarding arms supplies.

Eurofighter Deal

Erdogan and Scholz also discussed the future of defense cooperation, particularly the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey. The sale is seen to compensate for delays in the delivery of American F-16 fighters, which the U.S. only approved in early 2024. The delivery of the Eurofighter jets requires agreement from all four countries involved in their production, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain.

Erdogan expressed his appreciation for Scholz’s efforts to facilitate the deal, saying, “We have encountered some problems in the past. I appreciate the efforts of my dear friend Scholz to find solutions to these problems.”

Scholz confirmed that the British government had already begun negotiations for the sale and expressed optimism that concrete deliveries would soon follow. This potential sale is seen as an important step in improving NATO cooperation with Turkey, a key member of the alliance, particularly as Ankara has had strained relations with its allies due to its purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile systems.

Recently, German media reported that Berlin had also approved the sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Turkey, a move seen as a sign of growing military cooperation between the two nations despite earlier friction.

Biden’s visit to Germany

While Scholz’s visit to Turkey was taking place, U.S. President Joe Biden was honored with Germany’s highest award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, in Berlin on Friday. The award was presented by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in recognition of Biden’s decades-long dedication to the transatlantic alliance and his leadership in addressing global challenges, especially in Europe.

In his acceptance speech, Biden reflected on the historic transformation of Germany over the past decades, from a divided and war-torn nation to a prosperous and unified democracy. “The dream of Europe, whole and free, remains the work of our time,” Biden said, pointing to the importance of democracy and alliances in pushing back against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

On October 18, Biden held talks with German Chancellor Scholz, French President Macron, and British Prime Minister Starmer in Berlin which focused primarily on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, both of which have seen major developments recently. Biden’s arrival in Berlin follows Israel’s announcement that it has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, potentially bringing an end to the year-long Gaza conflict, and securing the release of remaining Israeli hostages.

I met with @Bundeskanzler Scholz to thank him for his leadership in increasing Germany’s investment in NATO’s collective defense and in securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans earlier this year.

The close alliance between the U.S. and Germany continues to deliver… pic.twitter.com/oFmk0CxneI

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2024

The discussions also included Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s “victory plan.” This plan calls for Ukraine’s immediate invitation to join NATO and permission to use Western long-range weapons against Russian targets to force Moscow into peace negotiations.

While the United States and Germany have been Ukraine’s key suppliers of military and financial support, both Biden and Scholz are cautious about Zelenskyy’s latest demands, concerned that these actions could escalate the conflict and lead to direct confrontation with Russia.