Erdoğan visits Germany to discuss EU ties, Gaza offensive

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan set off for Germany on a short visit upon the invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss bilateral ties, Türkiye’s accession to the EU and the ongoing offensive by Israel against the civilians in Gaza.

The two leaders had agreed on Erdoğan’s visit after the Turkish president’s reelection in May polls.

Erdoğan, now engaged in an official visit to the German capital Berlin, delivers remarks before to his scheduled meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In his remark, Erdogan implied that Germany's ability to raise its voice is limited due to its historical association with the Holocaust. He asserted, "We, as a nation, did not experience the Holocaust, and our respect for the dignity of human beings knows no bounds. As a leader, I have taken a firm stance against anti-Semitism during my time as prime minister. Consequently, we are not indebted to anyone."

Erdoğan also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.During the meeting, the discussion encompassed the Israeli actions in Gaza, the bilateral relations between Türkiye and Germany, as well as various global issues.

President Erdoğan expressed the importance of promptly establishing a ceasefire in the region and delivering essential humanitarian aid. He emphasized that it is crucial to prevent further loss of life and put an end to the ongoing violence for the sake of humanity.

Erdoğan also mentioned that Türkiye has expressed its interest in EU membership for several decades, and they will discuss ways to speed up visa procedures for its citizens until visa liberalization is achieved.

Germany, however, rejects the calls for a ceasefire and echoes the Israeli right to protect its citizens against Hamas, which the EU has designated as a terror organization.

Türkiye-EU ties on the table

Another top issue the two leaders will discuss will be Türkiye’s long-stalled accession process to the European Union. The talks in Berlin come before the European Commission outlines a special report on the future of ties with Türkiye as the accession process has been de facto frozen due to the disagreements between Ankara and Brussels.

The talks are expected to focus on Türkiye’s demands of providing visa liberalization to Turkish nationals and starting negotiations for the modernization of the customs union. Germany is keen to continue and renew the 2016 migrant deal with Türkiye and focus on the transactional relationship with the Turkish government on security, energy and other issues to the joint interests of both sides.

Strict security measures in Berlin

In the meantime, according to the Turkish media, the German security forces will take extensive security measures in the capital city of Berlin during President Erdoğan’s stay. Some roads will be closed, and additional law enforcement will be dispatched to the city, according to the media.