Arrest of Mayor Imamoglu: Berlin Blocks Military Aircraft Deliveries to Ankara

The German government is blocking the delivery of around thirty Eurofighter jets to Turkey, according to a report by Handelsblatt.

The main reason behind Germany’s refusal to approve the deal is the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which German officials have described as “a blow to Turkish democracy.” In this context, Berlin considers it appropriate to “suspend arms-related transactions” with Turkey, the newspaper writes.

It is worth noting that after Turkey signed a deal with Russia in 2019 for the delivery of the S-400 air defense system, Ankara was excluded from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet development program. Since then, Turkey has been exploring alternatives to the F-35, including the Eurofighter.

While the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy initially showed no objection to the sale of Eurofighters to Ankara, Germany—one of the countries in the consortium producing the jets—has not given its approval.

For context, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 on charges of corruption and alleged ties to terrorist organizations. His arrest sparked a wave of protests across several Turkish cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.