"The focus is on the bilateral conversation with Mr. Erdogan. That was all Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer offered at this week's press conference in Berlin when asked about the chancellor's upcoming two-day visit to Turkey, which begins on Wednesday. Meyer described it as an "inaugural visit" to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noting that "a small program would surround it." Since taking office, Merz has had brief encounters with Erdogan on the international stage, including one in Tirana, Albania, in May."
"What these three chancellors share is a reliance on Turkey, shaped by distinct political circumstances. For Merkel, it was the refugee influx of 2015; for Scholz, the outbreak of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022; and for Merz, Ankara's potential role as a mediator in both the Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict. A glance further back reveals just how much the dynamics have shifted."
Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make a two-day visit to Turkey focused on bilateral talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, described as an inaugural visit with a small accompanying program. Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer emphasized the focus on the bilateral conversation. Merz has held brief encounters with Erdogan at international events, including in Tirana in May. Previous chancellors timed their first visits differently: Olaf Scholz visited in March 2022, Angela Merkel in 2006, Helmut Kohl and Gerhard Schroder waited years. Reliance on Turkey has reflected shifting priorities, including the 2015 refugee influx, Russia's 2022 war and Ankara's potential mediator role in Ukraine and Gaza. Turkey remains a key NATO ally but far from EU membership.
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