Germany is reconsidering Turkey’s request to purchase Eurofighter warplanes, a source familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye, according to reporter Ragip Soylu after Berlin initially appeared reticent to sell the jets.
Since last year, Turkey has sought to buy at least 20 Eurofighter jets in a package reportedly valued at $5.6bn in total, but progress on the deal has been very slow due to some parties in the German government’s coalition, like the Green Party, opposing the sale.
“We are taking another look at Turkey’s request with a fresh mind and will review it,” the source told MEE.
Asked about the government’s decision to revisit the sale, the source said that increasing tensions in the Middle East, such as fears of a war between Iran and Israel, as well as the growing Russian threat to Europe, has prompted a rethink.
Akif Cagatay Kilic, a chief advisor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told Turkish journalists last week in a closed door meeting that there had been some progress on the Eurofighter deal but wouldn’t reveal details.
Turkey has a rapidly aging air force mostly consisting of F-16, for which she placed a mega-order with US, containing upgrade kits. The sale was finally approved by the US Senate lats year, but to the best of our knowledge, no parts have arrived.
In 2024, the White House dangled the promise of re-admission to F-35 jet fighter program to Turkey in return for placing Russian made S-400 anti-missile system in Incirlik NATO base. While negotiations are still ongoing, Russia made it clear that it wants to a have a say about the re-deployment of S-400s, complicating matters.
Ankara is not expected to make a decision regarding S-400s before US presidential elections. The personal and mostly warm relationship between Erdogan and erstwhile US president Trump can increase mutual trust and grease the wheels of a deal.
Follow our English language YouTube videos @ REAL TURKEY: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpFJB4GFiNkhmpVZQ_d9Rg
And content at Twitter: @AtillaEng
Facebook: Real Turkey Channel: https://www.facebook.com/realturkeychannel/