Chancellor's visit to Turkey When it comes to Gaza, things between Merz and Erdogan are frozen for a short time.

Friedrich Merz stayed in Turkey for about 24 hours.His meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and the return of rejected asylum seekers.

The Chancellor's visit to Türkiye: When it comes to Gaza, things briefly turn cold between Merz and Erdogan

Friedrich Merz stayed in Turkey for almost 24 hours.His meeting with Tayyop Erdoğan discussed Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and the return of asylum seekers.

It was the first bilateral visit by a chancellor outside Europe and America: Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) stayed in Ankara for about 24 hours and had detailed talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years.

Erdogan addressed Merez as "my esteemed friend" at a joint press conference on Thursday afternoon.Although the two spoke more intensively than ever on Thursday, it was not the first time they had met.They met only two weeks ago, at the presentation of the Gaza peace plan in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.Previously, at the NATO summit in The Hague in the summer, on her side the idea came up that Charlotte Mertz could accompany her husband to Ankara.

Merz and Erdogan met for the first time in May at the meeting of the European Political Union (EPG) in Tirana.The Turkish head of state carefully prepares for the talks, sometimes by reading pieces of paper.Both men speak through a translator, so conversations are less fluid than when Merz speaks in English, for example, to US President Donald Trump.The handshake between Merz and Erdogan was formal; Only at the end did Erdoğan look Merz in the eye and laugh briefly.

On an open stage, at a press conference in the presidential palace, Erdogan and Mertz demonstrated their disagreement on the issue of Israel and Gaza.Erdogan spoke of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and claimed that Hamas "has no bombs."Israel killed more than 60 thousand people.According to Erdogan, the bombs were dropped on Gaza only on Wednesday night. "Germany also sees it, I think."

Germany would stand by Israel, Merz replied.He talked about "what is closed in Gaza" and thanked Turkey for its stake in the peace plan.Turkey has helped in healing the current damage caused by the disease.But he is also aware of Türkiye's support for Hamas and the strong ties between Türkiye and Israel.But what role do Germany and Turkey play in the future of Israel and the Palestinian territories?

According to Merz, Ankara should help disarm Hamas.“Government without Hamas” is also necessary.

Like Germany, Türkiye also supplies arms to Ukraine.However, unlike Berlin, Accra does not support sanctions against Russia, but conducts brisk business.Meraz and Erdoğan probably also exchange views on how they monitor us as far as Moscow and Kiev are concerned.

While Merc Castizius spoke about Russia's Russia, "Erdogan avoided the wrong task. He only called for an end to the war.

The border between Turkey and Syria is about 900 km long. Some countries are interested in the stability of Syria like Turkey. Germany wants to return other refugees to Syria.

Erdoğan called for coordination between Germany and Turkey to support Syria as a "major development" by the Syrian government.

Prize of Asylum and Return

Mertz and his coalition, especially the Union, have taken up the goal of a more restrictive asylum policy.The chancellor is proud to point to a drop in the number of asylum seekers, even if they were already registered before his government took office.He also points to an increase in the number of returns of rejected asylum seekers, including to Turkey.

But asylum seekers in Germany still come from Türkiye.After leaving Syria and AfghanistanMore than 11,000 Turks have applied for asylum in Germany this year.(until September) more than 9,000 people for the first time

If in March on his way, Germany can deport about 2260 people, this happened once to the German Angela Merkel (CDU) to the country once for treatment.

Ankara still aims for full EU membership as a "strategic goal" (Erdogan).After Merz made more cautious statements ("paves Turkey's path to Europe", "Turkey is closer to the EU"), Erdogan went on the offensive."Turkey is not a country in Europe or anywhere in Asia," he said.There are no problems with democracy.

When asked by a German journalist about the jailed mayor of Istanbul and Erdoğan's rival, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan referred to the rule of law."It doesn't matter who holds which position: in a constitutional state, you can't trample on the law," he said and spoke of "corruption and bribery."

Merz said shortly afterwards that he wanted to "express his concern" that independent jurisprudence "does not live up to our expectations".

Germany and Turkey belong to Nato.However, as a result of the separation of foreign and domestic politics, the cooperation of weapons is limited.After Turkey attacked Syria in 2016, Merkel's government blocked arms exports to Turkey.

Merkel's successor, Olaf Scholz (SPD), backed out and Merz continued.A multimillion-dollar deal for the delivery of 20 new Eurofighter fighter jets was closed on Monday with the approval and participation of Germany.

Merz has linked the actions of the authorities until it first became clear what he did in internal discussions.When Merz was asked by the Turkish Report about Xenopopia and Umlimopia in Europe, he described the state of religion in Germany, which is all protected.

——Angela Merkel

- Donald Trump

- Friedrich Merz

- Olaf Scholes

- Recep Tayyip Erdogan