Berlin, May 13 - In April 2025, Germany’s caretaker coalition government, comprising the Social Democrats and Greens, halted the proposed sale of approximately 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, a decision rooted in escalating concerns over Turkey’s political trajectory. The move, reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt on April 17, 2025, was prompted by the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and a prominent opposition leader, on March 19, 2025. İmamoğlu, a key figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and a potential presidential candidate for the 2028 election, faced charges of corruption and alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), accusations widely criticized as politically motivated. His detention sparked widespread protests across Turkey, the largest since 2013, and drew sharp international condemnation, with German officials describing it as an “attack on Turkish democracy.” This political turmoil became the catalyst for Germany’s veto, underscoring Berlin’s growing unease with Ankara’s democratic backsliding under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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The Eurofighter Typhoon, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter developed by a consortium of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain through companies like Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, was a critical component of Turkey’s air force modernization strategy. Excluded from the U.S.-led F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, Turkey sought the Typhoon to bridge the capability gap left by its aging fleet of over 200 F-16s and outdated F-4 Phantoms. The proposed deal included 20 older Tranche 1 jets from the UK and 20 advanced Tranche 4 models, with Turkey aiming to deploy all 40 by 2030. The acquisition was also seen as a strategic counterbalance to Greece’s recent purchase of French Rafale jets, which, alongside Greece’s F-35s, threatened to shift the regional aerial power balance in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
Germany’s veto, which requires unanimous approval from all consortium nations, has significant implications. It not only stalls Turkey’s military modernization but also strains the Eurofighter consortium’s unity and NATO’s southern flank cohesion. The decision has ignited tensions with the UK and Spain, who supported the sale, and complicates Turkey’s defense strategy as it develops its indigenous fifth-generation fighter, the KAAN, expected by 2030. Greece, meanwhile, opposed the deal, citing concerns over Turkey equipping the Typhoons with advanced Meteor missiles, which could challenge Athens’ air superiority. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised these issues with French President Emmanuel Macron, though France noted the multinational nature of the missile’s production limited its ability to intervene.
Germany’s political landscape adds further complexity. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, supports the sale and may use it as leverage to negotiate İmamoğlu’s release, while the Social Democrats remain opposed. As Germany transitions to a potential CDU-led coalition, the future of the deal remains uncertain. Turkey, undeterred, is exploring alternatives, including a British proposal for Tranche 1 jets and potential reentry into the F-35 program under a new U.S. administration. However, Ankara’s refusal to relinquish its S-400 systems continues to complicate its defense partnerships, leaving its air force modernization in limbo amid deepening geopolitical frictions.