Skip to main content

Germany opposes arms embargo against Turkey

Greece has called for European leaders to apply stronger pressure on Ankara over its actions in the eastern Mediterranean, but the appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.
Activists stand in front of a tank and hold up signs reading "stop exports of weapons" to protest against plans of German military technology group Rheinmetall to built a tank factory in Turkey, on April 26, 2017 in front of the Bundestag in Berlin. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL        (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany will not heed a request from Greece to impose an arms embargo against Turkey, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Tuesday. The statement comes as Greece has urged European leaders to apply pressure to Ankara over its actions in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

“We continue to believe that there is a solution to the conflict and that we do not have to permanently remove a NATO partner from the arms cooperation,” Heiko Maas told the German news agency DPA, calling the arms embargo “strategically incorrect.” Germany has a contract to deliver six submarines to Turkey.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.