Eurofighters on the Way to Ankara: Erdogan’s Pressure Pays Off

Turbulent Path to Turkey

The story of Turkey’s potential purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets is far from straightforward. It is not simply a traditional arms deal between producer and buyer, but rather a political minefield where economic, strategic, and human rights considerations collide.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the result of a collaboration between four European nations – Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain – each of which must approve exports to third parties.

In practice, this means that every decision is subject to extensive negotiations and political balancing.

Ankara’s Urgent Need for Fighter Jets

The reason behind Turkey’s interest is serious. After Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2019, the country lost access to the US F-35 program, and the US imposed restrictions on the sale of new F-16 jets.

This has created an urgent need for modern fighter jets in the Turkish Air Force, where slow progress on the domestic TF-X (Kaan) aircraft means Turkey urgently lacks operational capacity.

In this vacuum, the Eurofighter Typhoon has become an attractive option, as it can be delivered relatively quickly and is compatible with NATO’s systems.

In March 2025, the UK took the initiative with an official offer of 40 aircraft, triggering a chain reaction among NATO partners and increasing pressure on Germany.

Berlin Falters Under NATO Pressure

So far, Germany has been the major stumbling block for the export. Under Olaf Scholz’s government, particularly the Greens coalition has strongly opposed selling arms to Turkey, citing the country’s human rights violations and political repression.

The arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was highlighted as a particularly serious case.

However, the internal opposition in Germany is now being heavily challenged by allied countries, especially the UK and Spain, which see the deal as a strategic necessity and a signal of NATO solidarity.

The UK, seeking new strategic alliances post-Brexit, is firm that Turkey should be supported militarily, while Spain holds similar viewpoints.

Erdogan’s Diplomatic Triumph?

The German government seems to be slowly yielding to the pressure, which could be a significant political and diplomatic victory for Erdogan.

If the export is approved, it will mark a decisive shift in German foreign policy, where human rights considerations have traditionally been heavily weighted.

The upcoming decision will not only be a test of Germany’s internal politics but also NATO’s ability to balance strategic needs with values and principles. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: Erdogan has managed to push Germany’s red lines.

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