The Turkish government said last year that it was keen to acquire Eurofighter jets, but negotiations have been slow to get off the ground.
A British-led project that could supply Turkey with Eurofighter jets is in its early stages, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
Asked about the issue at a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Saturday, Mr Scholz said: “There are some projects that have just started. Some projects have already begun.” .
“Turkey is a member of NATO, which is why we always make decisions that lead to concrete deliveries,” Scholz said.
There was no immediate comment from the British government.
Last year, the Turkish government said it was keen to acquire Eurofighter jets, but negotiations have been slow to get off the ground, largely due to Berlin’s opposition to Turkey’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
According to German news magazine Der Spiegel, Berlin recently authorized the delivery of major weapons to Ankara, including anti-aircraft missiles worth hundreds of millions of euros.
This marks a clear change in direction after Germany sharply cut its arms exports following Turkey’s attack on Syria that began in 2016.
Erdogan acknowledged Scholz’s efforts to lift Germany’s restrictions on defense sales to Turkey.
“We want to leave behind some of the difficulties experienced in the past in the supply of defense industry products and develop cooperation,” President Erdoğan told reporters, adding, “I appreciate Scholz’s efforts to find a solution to the problem.” ” was expressed.
The Eurofighter Typhoon jet is manufactured by a consortium consisting of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, with participation from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. London is leading stakeholder discussions, but any of the four countries could veto the sale.
Germany used to be a large arms supplier to Turkey, but in recent years German arms exports to Turkey have declined.
The sale to Turkey is controversial in Germany, due in part to the Turkish government’s international actions.
After Turkey launched its first ground offensive in northern Syria in 2016, Germany’s export permits to Ankara were significantly reduced.
Another point of contention in German-Turkish relations is Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
President Erdogan on Saturday accused Israel of committing genocide in its attack on the Gaza Strip. He also called for pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and condemned Israel’s expansionist policies.
Scholz on Saturday rejected Erdogan’s accusations of genocide, with the German leader saying civilian victims on all sides of the conflict should be commemorated equally. He called for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners held by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
