Germany approves Eurofighter jet sale to Turkey amid political tensions

Wednesday 23 July 2025 - 13:55

Germany has officially authorized the export of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to Turkey, ending months of diplomatic hesitation over the sale. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius confirmed on Wednesday that the German Defense Ministry had sent a letter to Ankara validating the export.

Turkey, a longstanding NATO member, has been seeking to acquire 40 Eurofighter jets to modernize its air force. Despite the United Kingdom leading the negotiations, the deal required unanimous consent from all four manufacturing nations—Germany, the UK, Spain, and Italy. Until now, Berlin had blocked the sale due to political disagreements with Ankara, including tensions related to the Gaza conflict and concerns over democratic governance in Turkey.

Following Germany’s green light, Turkey and the UK signed a preliminary agreement formalizing the deal. “Welcoming Turkey as an official Eurofighter operator strengthens the decades-long alliance between NATO partners,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said. It also emphasized that the acquisition would boost Turkey’s advanced aerial combat capabilities.

According to Der Spiegel, Turkey has pledged not to deploy the Eurofighters against any NATO member, a commitment that seeks to ease anxieties in neighboring Greece, a frequent critic of Turkish military expansion.

The German-Turkish relationship has been strained in recent years, notably after the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in March. Imamoglu, a leading opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a potential 2028 presidential candidate, publicly urged Berlin to approve the sale, stating: “Turkey is bigger than Erdogan. Reverse the Eurofighter decision.”

Despite differing stances on Middle East policy, particularly regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, the deal reflects a pragmatic step toward reinforcing military ties within NATO.