Türkiye ‘still seeking Eurofighter deal’ despite German reluctance

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has underscored Türkiye's continued interest in acquiring Eurofighter jets, asserting that they remain a compelling alternative despite recent disagreements with Germany over the potential purchase.

"If we can realize the issues we talked about with our friends, maybe we won't need it, but we do now. The Eurofighter is a very good alternative, and we want to buy it," Güler said in a televised interview with private broadcaster NTV on Dec. 11.

The source of contention lies in Germany's hesitancy to sell the advanced jets to Türkiye, citing concerns related to the latter's natural gas drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean, as reported by local media. The Eurofighter is jointly produced by Germany, the U.K., Spain and Italy in a consortium.

Berlin's reservations trace back to decisions made by the EU Council in 2019, where sanctions were imposed on Türkiye over its exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean during a crisis with Greece, showcasing the union's support for Cyprus.

Despite Germany's reluctance, Güler reaffirmed the commitment of the U.K. and Spain to persuade Germany to agree to the deal. The Eurofighter is a collaborative effort involving Germany, the U.K., Spain, and Italy.

Güler criticized Germany's stance, stating, "We are a NATO member country, but another NATO member is against us buying these planes... There is no explanation for an ally to say, 'I am not giving you airplanes.'"

Despite further strains stemming from Türkiye's acquisition of the Russian S-400 defense system and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's often condemnation of Israel, Güler expressed optimism that the U.K. and Spain would convince Germany to proceed with the deal.

"Our defense...