Germany has approved the delivery of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye, unblocking a deal that had been held up due to diplomatic friction between the two nations.
Türkiye has long sought to purchase 40 of the advanced fighter aircraft, which are produced by a consortium involving Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain.
While the jets are manufactured in Britain—which has led the negotiations—all four partner countries must sign off on any export agreement.
Berlin had previously resisted approving the sale, reportedly due to political tensions with Ankara, particularly surrounding opposing stances on Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Türkiye has fiercely criticised Israel’s actions, while Germany has consistently backed Israel, despite expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in the region.
However, German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius confirmed on Wednesday that the defence ministry had now formally notified Türkiye of its approval in writing.
According to Der Spiegel, Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to support the deal following pressure from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The project is expected to sustain approximately 20,000 jobs in the UK.
Following Germany’s clearance, defence ministers from Türkiye and the UK signed a preliminary agreement in Istanbul for the aircraft delivery.
The Turkish Ministry of Defence described the deal as a major step in bolstering Ankara’s air combat capabilities and deepening its longstanding alliance with NATO partners.
British Defence Secretary John Healey echoed those sentiments, saying the agreement would reinforce NATO’s collective security while also safeguarding thousands of skilled jobs across the UK.
Türkiye initially submitted its request for the Eurofighters over two years ago, but progress had stalled amid deteriorating political relations between Ankara and Berlin.
