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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday described Türkiye as a “strategic partner and good friend” of Germany in all foreign policy matters, emphasizing that this relationship will continue.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following their meeting in Ankara, Wadephul said:
“One thing I have always noticed is that we share many common interests, and therefore Türkiye is not only a NATO ally for us but also a strategic partner and a good friend in all our foreign policy matters—and it will continue to be so.”
Wadephul praised Türkiye’s active support for the U.S.-brokered peace plan for Gaza, noting that Ankara had played an important role in its implementation.
“This contribution was highly valuable. I am confident that Türkiye will continue to stand with us to consolidate the agreement and turn it into a genuine peace process,” he said.
He reiterated Germany’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing that Palestinians “must have hope for establishing their own state in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Considering the broader geostrategic context, Wadephul said Germany wants to strengthen cooperation between the European Union EU and Türkiye, similar to the collaboration between the EU and NATO.
“We want progress in EU–Türkiye relations. We want the customs union to be updated. We want visa liberalization. We want a generally positive agenda,” he said. “If Türkiye truly wants to join the EU, it will find a reliable and friendly partner in Germany.”
He emphasized that Türkiye’s determination and seriousness in advancing toward EU membership would be key to achieving results, adding that the process “is not an easy one and cannot be completed within just a few weeks or months.”
Highlighting the close defense industry cooperation between the two countries, Wadephul said:
“We are pleased that the defense industries of both countries are able to cooperate with each other. There are several projects nearing completion in this regard. Türkiye is a reliable and central NATO partner for us, and therefore, it is natural that our defense industries cooperate as closely as possible. Who else could we cooperate with, if not our NATO allies?”
He underlined that both governments make procurement decisions based on criteria such as price and quality, and that Germany imposes no restrictions on cooperation with Türkiye in this field. “On the contrary, we want to cooperate with Türkiye in all areas,” he said.
Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Wadephul said Germany had taken concrete measures in response to Israel’s military actions.
“Personally, I described it as a ‘hellish situation.’ We do not hesitate to define or acknowledge anything regarding this issue,” he said.
“We have restricted arms shipments to Israel, limiting them to those that could currently be used in the Gaza Strip,” he added.
Wadephul stressed that Germany is “not blind to what is happening” in the conflict and will continue to act in full compliance with international humanitarian law and its obligations toward the Palestinian people.
The meeting between Fidan and Wadephul marked the German foreign minister’s first official visit to Türkiye, focusing on bilateral ties, regional security, and ongoing efforts to support peace and stability in the Middle East.
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