Intensifying feud: Germany stops arms sales to Turkey

Relations between Turkey and Germany have taken another blow as Berlin announced yesterday that it is putting arms exports to its NATO ally on hold.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel announced his country’s decision in remarks that appear to be a response to a German couple being detained by Ankara allegedly on political grounds.

Turkish relations with several EU states, including Germany, have deteriorated sharply this year. Relations began to sour after Germany gave asylum to Turkish military officers wanted by Ankara for the failed coup of 2016.

Read: Turkey warns citizens in Germany ahead of elections

Points of dispute also included the barring of Turkish politicians from holding campaign rallies in EU countries ahead of last April’s referendum, and concerns over the powers granted to Erdogan in the closely fought plebiscite.

Turkey on the other hand has also restricted access for German parliamentarians seeking to visit German troops at the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, leading Berlin to announce it was moving those forces out of Turkey. It has also detained several German nationals, including journalist Deniz Yucel.

The suspension of weapons export to a NATO ally however, is likely to put further strain on relations between the two countries.

Turkish officials moved quickly to denounce the suspension. “This decision will weaken Turkey’s fight against terrorism, and weakening the Turkish fight would mean making Europe’s future more vulnerable,” said Turkish EU foreign Minister Omer Celik today.

Celik, who was speaking in London was reported by Reuters pressing on German officials to “leave security issues out of political discussions”.