Imamoğlu brake on fighter jet deal
The sales agreement between Turkey and Germany for Eurofighter fighter jets has been suspended by the German government following the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu.
12punto
Turkey's plan to purchase Eurofighter fighter jets has hit a snag due to political developments. Following the arrest of presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, Germany has suspended the agreement regarding the 40 fighter jets planned for sale to Turkey. This decision by the German government has caused widespread repercussions in the European media, particularly in Germany.
İMAMOĞLU'S ARREST PROMPTS EUROPEAN ACTION
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested on March 23, 2025, has become a focal point not only for Turkey but for the global public. Analyses in the international press have featured headlines such as "Erdoğan has his strongest rival arrested," "A blow to the opposition in Turkey," and "Intervention in democracy." European Union officials and many countries have criticized Turkey, characterizing İmamoğlu's detention as a political move.
Ankara, which had been seeking alternatives due to the S-400 crisis between Turkey and the US regarding F-35 fighter jets, had turned its attention to Germany and sat down at the table with the German government for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. At the end of the negotiations, an agreement had been reached on the sale of 40 fighter jets to Turkey. However, according to a report by the Handelsblatt newspaper dated April 17, 2025, Germany has suspended this agreement.
The report stated that the Berlin administration made this decision in response to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu. German officials described İmamoğlu's detention as an "attack on Turkish democracy."
THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY
Whether this decision by Germany will be permanent remains uncertain. The current government led by Olaf Scholz has only two weeks left in its term. It has been reported that the new coalition led by Merz, which is expected to take office, will make the final decision regarding the Eurofighter sale. For this reason, it is stated that the issue of the sale of the jets to Turkey will be one of the priority agendas of the new German government.