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.
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.
Greece and Cyprus have been embroiled in tensions with Turkey over disputed maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean. In August, Ankara sent a research vessel into the waters to search for untapped energy reserves. Since then, the countries have exchanged maritime military drills.
Ahead of an EU leaders' summit on Dec. 10-11, Greece called for an EU arms embargo against Turkey, arguing that the weapons could be used against EU members Greece and Cyprus if there is an escalation over contested waters in the eastern Mediterranean.
