Erdoğan receives German foreign minister in Ankara for talks

2026-03-12 - 23:33

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the capital Ankara on Thursday for talks at the Presidential Complex. The meeting, which was closed to the press, brought together senior Turkish and German officials for discussions on bilateral relations and regional developments. High-level attendance Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Presidential Foreign Policy and Security Advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic also attended the meeting, underscoring the importance Ankara places on dialogue with Berlin. The presence of top diplomatic and security advisors suggests the discussions covered a range of issues beyond routine bilateral cooperation. Regional context The meeting comes amid escalating regional tensions following the US-Israeli war with Iran, now in its 14th day, which has killed over 1,300 people and drawn in Gulf states. Germany has maintained a cautious stance on the conflict, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul previously ruling out German participation and emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions. Bilateral ties Germany is one of Türkiye's key European partners, with deep economic ties and significant diplomatic engagement on issues ranging from migration to regional security. The meeting provided an opportunity to coordinate positions on the widening Middle East conflict and other matters of mutual concern.