The German government has cleared the path for the potential export of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey. According to reports from “Der Spiegel”, the Federal Security Council has approved a preliminary request for 40 of the combat aircraft. These jets would be manufactured in the United Kingdom, incorporating components sourced from Germany.
The decision follows a request submitted by Turkey in March 2023. The current coalition government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has also responded to lobbying efforts from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Eurofighter is produced by a consortium comprising the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain, necessitating German government approval for export to third-party nations.
Sources indicate that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the British government and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have been informed of the German government’s decision. The move comes despite ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey concerning competing territorial claims, both of which are members of NATO.
During the review process, Turkey reportedly pledged to deploy the aircraft solely within the framework of NATO solidarity, ensuring they would not be used against any other member of the alliance. The planned authorization was also discussed with Prime Minister Mitsotakis prior to its approval by the German government. Greece recently acquired 24 Rafale fighter jets from France, with the final deliveries completed in January.
