Turkish foreign minister visits Berlin for strategic dialogue

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Berlin to participate in the third meeting of the Germany-Turkey Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. During the visit, Fidan held meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Wadephul stated that Germany would act as a reliable partner for Turkey regarding EU accession, provided that all necessary criteria are met. The German side emphasized the importance of involving Turkey in the development of the EU's defense and industrial policies, noting Turkey's strategic influence regarding conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. In response, Fidan argued that Turkey's EU membership bid and bilateral relations should be handled independently of political criteria. He further asserted that excluding Turkey from EU defense and security mechanisms contradicts the union's own objectives. Fidan concluded by emphasizing that the European Union would be incomplete without Turkey. The discussions also referenced upcoming NATO-related events scheduled for July in Ankara.