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Germany has approved the delivery of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye, marking a significant breakthrough in negotiations that have spanned months, according to a report by Spiegel online Wednesday.
The decision by Germany's federal security council removes what had been viewed as the primary obstacle to the multibillion-dollar defense deal. Türkiye requires unanimous approval from all four manufacturing partners—Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain—to proceed with the purchase of the advanced fighter aircraft.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured by a consortium represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, with production facilities across the four partner nations.
The German approval follows a Tuesday phone call between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during which the leaders "reviewed the progress made regarding the procurement of Eurofighter jets," according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.
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Britain has consistently supported the sale, while Germany's position shifted following talks between Erdogan and then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November 2024. Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also indicated positive momentum toward authorizing the sale.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Erdogan expressed confidence about the deal's prospects. "The British and Germans are approaching this positively. God willing, I believe we will receive our jet planes as soon as possible," he said during a flight from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
"In my meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, I saw they also approached the issue positively and hopefully we will take this step," Erdogan added.
During Tuesday's call with Starmer, Erdogan also expressed hope that talks to update the Türkiye-U.K. Free Trade Agreement would conclude successfully within the year. He raised urgent concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that deaths from starvation cannot be prevented unless humanitarian aid is allowed in without delay.
The developments coincide with Erdogan's inauguration of the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul, which he framed as a symbol of Türkiye's growing independence in the global arms industry.
"Today, we are not only witnessing the development of the Turkish defense industry, but also the march of a nation toward independence," Erdogan said during the opening ceremony. "We are seeing the story of a country rising under its own sky, on its own wings."
He emphasized that Türkiye had overcome "embargoes, double standards, and diplomatic pressures" to become a major player in defense exports.
The six-day exhibition spans four venues and showcases armored combat vehicles, unmanned platforms, weapon systems, electronic warfare solutions, and military simulation technologies. Major signing ceremonies are expected as global delegations attend the fair, which was last held in July 2023.
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