German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized on Saturday that Germany will have no choice but to limit its economic ties with Turkey in order to create pressure on the country, a NATO partner, to release German citizens imprisoned for political reasons.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan began purges against his opponents following last year’s failed coup attempt. Germany and its EU partners believe this undermines democracy.
Germany and Turkey are also at odds over Berlin’s refusal to extradite asylum seekers whom Erdogan accuses of participating in the coup attempt.
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“We will have to further cut our joint economic cooperation with Turkey and consider projects,” Merkel stated in an interview with Passauer Neuen Presse when asked about ways in which these German citizens could be released.
Tensions between the two countries have also reflected on the parliamentary elections taking place in Germany next weekend, for which Erdogan has called on German Turks to ignore.
Approximately 3 million residents of Turkish descent live in Germany, and Berlin has traditionally good relations with Turkey, which is a major trading partner and a popular destination for German tourists.
German officials are appalled by the arrests of dozens of German citizens, including journalist Deniz Yucel, who has been detained for more than 200 days.
Merkel announced on Tuesday that Germany will impose restrictions on part of its arms sales to Turkey, and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, from the Social Democrats, previously announced that all major arms sales to Turkey have been put on hold.
Ankara, on the other hand, believes that this move will jeopardize their joint fight against the terrorist Islamic State.
Earlier this month, Merkel also stated that Turkey cannot become a member of the European Union and that she will discuss with European partners to reach a compromise on halting Ankara’s accession talks with the union.
