The German caretaker government has frozen the planned export of around 30 Eurofighter jets to Turkey, following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and prominent critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to a report by Handelsblatt, based on government sources, the decision stems from deepening concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey. Other major German media outlets have echoed this stance, highlighting what they describe as a troubling trend of political repression.
Imamoglu, the mayor of Constantinople and a rising star in Turkish politics, has been accused of corruption—a charge the Turkish opposition calls politically motivated. In Berlin, senior officials described the arrest as an attack on Turkey’s democracy, stating that no military agreement can proceed under such circumstances.
This halt in arms exports is not merely a decision by an outgoing government. Influential figures from the current ruling coalition—notably within the SPD and CSU—who supported the suspension, are expected to play key roles in the incoming administration led by Friedrich Merz.
The new CDU–SPD–CSU alliance, set to take office on May 6, has outlined its priorities: strengthening defense, tougher migration policies, and upholding democratic values and the rule of law both domestically and internationally.
Although Merz has made positive remarks about Turkey, there is uncertainty over whether these statements will translate into concrete policy actions. While Ankara insists that German objections to the sale have been resolved, the Handelsblatt report suggests otherwise, indicating the situation remains far from settled.
