A senior aide to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has underlined Berlin’s ambition to strengthen strategic relations with Turkiye, including its inclusion in the European Union’s security and defense frameworks, reports AA/ Daily Sabah.
Jurgen Hardt, foreign affairs spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that Germany would back Turkiye’s participation in EU defense programs alongside other NATO allies.
“It’s not possible to think about European foreign and security policy without NATO partners. You cannot make Europe secure without the U.K., without Norway, without Türkiye,” Hardt said.
He noted that Chancellor Merz’s recent visit to Ankara had been “very successful,” paving the way for closer cooperation between the EU and Türkiye in security, defense, and other strategic fields.
“What is possible with the United Kingdom should, in principle, also be possible with Türkiye,” Hardt added, emphasizing the need to integrate non-EU NATO members into European defense structures.
Hardt expressed support for including Turkish defense firms in EU programs such as the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, which allocates €150 billion ($173 billion) for joint defense procurement.
“Türkiye is a trusted NATO partner. Every Turkish weapon, every Turkish soldier also defends our freedom and security,” he said.
Türkiye, an EU candidate country, has already expressed interest in joining such programs and has received backing from major EU members including Germany, Spain, and Italy. Opposition from Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, however, has slowed progress.
Merz, who visited Ankara on October 30, has advocated deeper EU-Türkiye cooperation in security and foreign policy, arguing that the world is entering “a new geopolitical phase” requiring stronger strategic partnerships.
Hardt noted that Merz’s early visit to Türkiye—his first outside the EU apart from the U.S.—underscored the new German government’s commitment to strengthening ties. He also pointed to Berlin’s approval of Eurofighter jet sales to Türkiye as evidence of a policy shift toward enhanced defense cooperation.
Hardt said the new government had moved away from the confrontational tone of previous administrations, opting instead for “quiet, constructive dialogue” with Ankara based on mutual interests.
“We will not hide our concerns, but we will express them in a way the other side can accept and reflect upon,” he said.
He praised Türkiye’s role in mediating aspects of the Russia-Ukraine war and its stabilizing influence in Syria, noting shared goals for political transition and regional security.
“Türkiye has a long border with Syria and legitimate security needs, but it is also helping lay the foundation for a new, stable Syria,” he said.
During Merz’s visit, he and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to raise bilateral trade from $50 billion to $60 billion and discussed joint investments in transport and infrastructure projects.
Hardt said closer economic cooperation with Türkiye carries strategic importance as Europe faces security threats and economic challenges, including trade restrictions and global supply disruptions.
“We need to strengthen partnerships that secure our prosperity through free trade and our safety through freedom and democracy,” he said.
On Türkiye’s EU membership bid, Hardt reiterated Germany’s support for progress, emphasizing that accession depends on alignment with EU standards on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
