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Berlin (dpa) - Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has refused to stop all arms exports to Turkey because of the natural gas conflict in the eastern Mediterranean at this point in time.
"Strategically, I don't think that's the right way," said the SPD politician in an interview with the German press agency.
“That wouldn't be easy with a NATO partner either.
We have already seen once before that NATO partner Turkey, because it no longer received any missiles from the USA, simply bought them in Russia. "
Because of the conflict with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, Germany's EU partner Greece formally asked the German government in October to place an arms embargo on Ankara.
The main focus is on six submarines, which are being assembled in Turkey with the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems group playing a major role.
Berlin had already approved the delivery of components in 2009.
Relations with Turkey were much more relaxed back then.
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After Turkish troops marched into northern Syria in October 2019, the German government only restricted arms exports to Turkey.
Since then, it has stopped approving the delivery of weapons and other military goods that could be used in the war in Syria.
The submarine components may, however, continue to run.
Maas admitted that diplomatic efforts had not yet made the desired progress.
That is why the EU decided two weeks ago to sanction individuals and Turkish companies who are involved in the test drillings that are considered illegal.
Punitive measures against entire branches of the economy or an EU arms embargo, however, did not find the necessary unanimous majority at the EU summit in Brussels.
The Foreign Minister has not yet given up hope that the dispute will be settled through diplomatic channels.
"Of course, we continue to believe that there is a solution to the conflict and that we do not have to permanently remove a NATO partner from armaments cooperation," emphasized the SPD politician.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201222-99-780189 / 4