Turkey and Germany must focus on joint defence projects, Erdogan says

AL-Monitor
Oct 30, 2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attend a press conference with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attend a press conference with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas — Umit Bektas

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey and Germany have high potential in the defence industry and must focus on joint projects, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ankara.

"In light of the changing security conditions in Europe, we must leave behind problems in the procurement of defence industry products and focus on joint projects," Erdogan said.

Merz was making his inaugural visit to Turkey to discuss bilateral relations, foreign policy, and cooperation on economics, migration, and security.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Writin by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)