During a press conference of the German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Mr. Mertz was asked about her role Turkey In the Alliance, with himself stating that the issue was discussed at the two men’s lunch.
“We have to decide as a federal government on this issue if fighter aircraft can be delivered to Turkey,” Friedrich Mertz said.
Mr Mertz stressed that he is sharing with Ankara the will of “we really have this close relationship with Turkey as a big country in our alliance”, and made it known that will accept the invitation of President Erdoganwho was forced to cancel the last time.
He spoke of Turkey’s strategic importance by saying that “it is a country that protects a NATO region that has a high strategic importance.”
“Turkey is protecting a NATO region of high strategic importance, it is a valuable and important NATO partner. I will do everything I can to ensure that this partnership in the context of the alliance can be expanded with Turkey. “