There are many who considered that the Turkish presidential visit to Berlin should be cancelled. A pointless meeting with heavy police presence, many critical eyes and likely protests, even if they were banned. Very little can go right.
When the meeting was decided, just after the spring elections in Turkey, it looked fairly positive. Turkey needs Germany to jumpstart its collapsed economy and Germany needs Turkey for their geographic position and for continued help with the migration issue.
But since then, the international situation has changed again. The war between Israel and Hamas has shed light on an old conflict and which side the allies are on.
The issue has divided the world many times before and this time the division is abysmal. When it comes to the Israel and Palestine issue, Turkey and Germany are in different universes.
They make no secret of that.
Both must explain positions
Before the meeting, Erdogan has made it clear that he will explain Turkey’s position regarding Israel and Scholz has made it clear that he intends to explain his support for Israel.
It is not an excellent basis for a good meeting.
But beyond that, there are a couple of other running points on the table:
• The migration issue. Germany wants Turkey to continue to be the goalkeeper against refugees at the border with Europe.
• Fighter aircraft. Turkey needs Germany’s approval to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons. Spain and the UK are already positive, but Germany also needs to give the green light.
• Sweden and the NATO question. Turkey is taking giant steps towards approving Sweden’s NATO application. But yesterday they took a couple of steps back when the Turkish Foreign Affairs Committee postponed the vote, which will later be decided in parliament, because the discussions were far too lively. Erdogan possibly thought that he would come up with a positive NATO message before the trip to Germany, but that was not the case.
What will come out during tonight’s press conference is impossible to say.
But they don’t shy away from the difficult questions, that’s for sure.