The first official statement regarding Turkiye’s purchase of Eurofighter fighter jets came from the Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler. Answering Kübra Par’s questions on TV100, MOD Güler said, “We will purchase 40 Eurofighters. Germany has been resisting for a very long time to this acquisition. However, in the end, Germany responded positively as a result of the positive contributions of our NATO friends, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. I do not think that the government crisis in Germany will affect us.”
The 40 aircraft stated by Minister Güler correspond to two Eurofighter fleets.
Minister Güler announced 11 months ago that Turkiye wanted to procure 40 Eurofighters. While the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, partners in the Eurofighter consortium, approached this purchase positively, Germany was clearly against it. Following Sweden’s acceptance into NATO, Turkiye’s position within NATO was strengthened, and Germany began softer responses.
While the Preliminary Technical Talks began in September, the German Chancellor announced Germany’s stance in October. Chancellor Olaf Scholz came to Turkiye for a working visit with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and said they thought positively about this issue and that the United Kingdom was conducting the work. After this positive statement, the phrase “we are buying Eurofighter” was officially uttered by Minister Güler for the first time.
