Germany has strongly rejected claims that it is obstructing the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye, saying that any decision on arms exports will be left to the country’s incoming government, expected to take power next week. The German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action issued a statement clarifying that no decision had been made by the current interim administration regarding the Eurofighter sale, and any future approval or rejection will rest with the new coalition government.
Ministry spokesperson Tim-Niklas Wentzel emphasized the procedural stance: “The decision regarding comprehensive arms and equipment exports will be determined by the new government and not by the current interim administration.” Wentzel further confirmed that the current German government had not made any definitive ruling on the proposed export of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to Ankara.
This clarification comes amid rising speculation in the European and Turkish press that Berlin was actively blocking the proposed sale of roughly 40 Eurofighters to Türkiye. The allegations, widely reported in outlets such as Germany’s Handelsblatt, claimed that Germany had reversed an earlier green light for the deal due to political tensions, most notably the controversial arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in March.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense responded promptly to these allegations, seeking to redirect the narrative. It stressed that the procurement negotiations for the Eurofighter Typhoon are being conducted solely with the United Kingdom — not Germany.
“Negotiations regarding the sale of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to our country are being held with the UK. We have not had any talks with Germany so far,” the ministry said in an official statement.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler echoed this sentiment during a public reception at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on April 23, stating: “Our business is not with Germany, but with England. We will see how it develops in the coming period. Everything is proceeding as it started and as we planned.”
According to Turkish officials, the UK has been Ankara’s main interlocutor from the start. The UK’s Ministry of Defence formally submitted a proposal for the Eurofighter sale to Türkiye in March 2025, which Türkiye is currently reviewing in detail.
Despite these assurances, reports suggest that Berlin’s reluctance may stem from deeper political concerns. The Handelsblatt report alleged that Germany’s position shifted dramatically following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential candidate, who was detained on March 19 over corruption charges.
The arrest sparked a political firestorm in Türkiye and prompted mass protests across major cities — the most widespread demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park movement. Human rights groups, European governments, and international observers described the charges as politically motivated and condemned the arrest as an attack on democratic norms.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong rebuke, calling the arrest an “attack on Türkiye’s democracy,” signaling a rare diplomatic break from standard NATO discourse. Some analysts now believe that these political developments, combined with ongoing concerns about Türkiye’s democratic backsliding, may be influencing Germany’s hesitance to endorse Ankara’s Eurofighter acquisition.
There are also unverified reports that Berlin’s position may be influenced by pressure from Israel and Greece, two regional powers wary of Türkiye acquiring cutting-edge air combat capabilities. Both nations have raised concerns in recent years about Ankara’s military posture, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Syria.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a product of multinational collaboration involving Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. As such, any export to a third country requires unanimous consent from all four partner nations. If Germany does indeed refuse to sign off on the sale, the deal cannot proceed — even if Türkiye and the UK are aligned.
This has put Germany in a powerful gatekeeping role, albeit one that Berlin has so far been careful not to wield publicly. In practice, this structure makes the Eurofighter program both a model of European industrial cooperation and a flashpoint for geopolitical tension.
Türkiye’s plan to acquire 40 Eurofighters — 20 early-model Tranche 1 aircraft and 20 advanced Tranche 4 variants — is part of a broader strategy to modernize its aging air force. Its current fleet, largely composed of F-16s, faces increasing limitations in both performance and maintenance as the aircraft age.
Türkiye’s interest in the Eurofighter spiked after its expulsion from the U.S.-led F-35 program in 2019. The removal followed Ankara’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system — a move that NATO warned would compromise allied air operations and radar signatures.
Prior to its ejection, Türkiye had committed to acquiring up to 100 F-35s and was even a key industrial partner in the program. The loss of the F-35 left a significant gap in Ankara’s long-term airpower ambitions, prompting a strategic pivot toward European platforms.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, especially its Tranche 4 variant, has emerged as a frontrunner to fill that void. Equipped with the state-of-the-art CAPTOR-E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced sensors, and modern avionics, the Tranche 4 is viewed as a “4.5 generation” platform capable of operating into the 2060s.
Germany itself has committed to purchasing 38 Tranche 4 Eurofighters for the Luftwaffe, reinforcing the aircraft’s relevance in Europe’s future air combat ecosystem.
Over the past year, UK-Türkiye defence relations have steadily expanded. In December 2024, two Royal Air Force Typhoons landed at Murted Air Base in Ankara for a joint technical assessment — a key step in Türkiye’s due diligence process.
The visit signified Ankara’s serious intent to proceed with the Eurofighter purchase and marked a milestone in UK-Türkiye bilateral cooperation. In addition to joint air exercises and procurement talks, Turkish officials have praised the UK for its transparent and cooperative approach to arms sales.
General Metin Gürak, Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff, visited RAF Coningsby in September 2024, the operational base for many of the UK’s Eurofighter squadrons. The tour was widely interpreted as a signal of strategic alignment between the two NATO allies, at a time when Türkiye’s relationships with some other European partners remain strained.
The acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon is central to Türkiye’s military modernization. With the F-35 off the table and delays in its own domestic fighter project, KAAN (formerly TF-X), Türkiye is under pressure to close the capability gap before it becomes a strategic liability.
Analysts believe the Tranche 4 Typhoons would significantly boost Türkiye’s airpower, particularly in contested environments such as the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea, or the Syrian border. The aircraft’s interoperability with NATO systems is another critical factor, enabling Türkiye to participate more effectively in alliance operations and joint missions.
Without the Eurofighter, Türkiye risks falling behind regional competitors like Israel, which fields the F-35, and Greece, which recently purchased advanced Rafale jets from France.
While Türkiye continues to engage with the UK and evaluate the formal proposal it received in March, the final outcome remains uncertain. Much will depend on the position of Germany’s new government, set to take office in the coming days after protracted coalition negotiations.
If Berlin’s stance remains ambiguous or oppositional, Ankara may be forced to consider other options — including expanding its F-16 modernization program, fast-tracking its domestic fighter, or even seeking alternatives from non-Western suppliers like South Korea or Pakistan.
For now, however, Türkiye remains focused on securing the Eurofighter deal through its partnership with the UK. Whether Germany ultimately chooses to support or oppose the sale will not just shape the future of Türkiye’s air force — it will also serve as a litmus test for Europe’s defense cooperation in an era of rising global instability.
