German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul, where the topics of asylum seekers and arms exports took center stage.

Speaking after the meeting, Scholz noted that it was a ‘matter of course’ for NATO partner Türkiye to purchase German weapons, even expressing openness to the supply of Eurofighter jets.

Britain leads Eurofighter negotiations

Scholz clarified that negotiations regarding the supply of Eurofighter jets to Türkiye are being led by the UK, and that discussions are still in the early stages.

“There are some projects that have just started. This is a project the British government is leading, and negotiations are now beginning,” Scholz said at a press conference with Erdoğan, responding to a question on the topic.

Ankara had announced last year its interest in purchasing Eurofighter jets, but progress has been slow, largely due to Berlin’s concerns over Türkiye’s stance on the Gaza conflict.

Germany increases arms deliveries to Türkiye

According to Der Spiegel, Berlin recently approved significant arms deliveries to Türkiye, including anti-aircraft missiles valued at several hundred million euros.

Ahead of Scholz’s second visit to Türkiye in his three years in office, reports surfaced that the German government had once again approved large-scale arms exports to Türkiye. Tagesspiegel reported that, by October 13 of this year, 69 export licenses worth €103 million had been issued. Among these were weapons valued at €840,000.

For the first time since 2011, the approved export value for Türkiye has returned to the hundreds of millions. In the last major approval, 28 torpedoes and 101 guided missiles were greenlit for export.

Regarding the Eurofighter jets, since they are to be co-produced with Germany, the German government must also approve their sale.

Scholz: Relations have ‘noticeably improved’

The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are produced by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, with participation from Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Any of the four nations can veto the sale, though London is currently leading the negotiations.

Erdoğan expressed satisfaction with the renewed defense cooperation, stating that previous obstacles to defense procurement “should now be left behind.”

The meeting between Scholz and Erdoğan, attended by top officials and ministers from both countries, was described by Scholz as a ‘visible sign’ of the improved quality of relations between Germany and Türkiye.

Migration: Low profile on concrete outcomes

When questioned about specific results on migration, both leaders kept a low profile, according to Tagesspiegel.

The German government is seeking to deport criminals not only to Afghanistan but also to Syria, and is exploring potential cooperation partners. Scholz reiterated his intention to deport “criminals” to Syria but avoided confirming whether Türkiye would assist in this effort.

As of September, 15,789 Turkish citizens were slated for deportation from Germany, an increase of 1,200 compared to five months earlier. During the first half of the year, 441 deportations were carried out.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently stated that Türkiye had agreed to accelerate the repatriation of Turkish citizens, although no concrete details have been announced.

Erdoğan on migration and economic ties

Erdoğan noted that trade between Türkiye and Germany had reached $50 billion, with hopes of increasing this figure to $60 billion.

On the topic of migration, Erdoğan highlighted that Türkiye currently hosts around 3.5 million Syrian refugees and that the country will continue to keep its doors open to them.

“We worked on this issue during [former Chancellor] Merkel’s time in office. Our door has always been open, and it remains so. When people from the Middle East or Lebanon came, we welcomed them. There are also Turkmen in Lebanon. Our door is open,” Erdoğan said.

Scholz thanked Erdoğan for Türkiye’s efforts in managing migration and assured that Germany would continue supporting Türkiye in handling the influx of Syrian refugees.

Disagreements on Gaza

The two leaders maintained differing views on the situation in Gaza. Erdoğan accused Israel of committing genocide, a claim Scholz firmly rejected.

“Germany does not believe that the accusation of genocide is justified,” Scholz stated, while emphasizing that Israel has the right to self-defense, provided it adheres to international law.

Scholz acknowledged their disagreement on the issue, remarking: “Even if we do not agree on everything, an intensive dialogue on international conflicts is important—it is the only way to find solutions.”

Calls for cooperation on Ukraine

Both leaders expressed a desire to collaborate on the Ukraine conflict, though their statements remained vague.

“We are both on the side of Ukraine,” Scholz said, adding that he would like to explore how Türkiye and Germany could cooperate on the matter.

In recent weeks, Scholz has intensified efforts to advocate for a new peace conference on Ukraine that would include Russia.

The organization, which expanded in 2024 with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, represents 45 percent of the world’s population and a third of global GDP. Under Russia’s chairmanship, various initiatives to increase the use of national currencies and strengthen financial mechanisms are at the forefront.

BRICS is an informal grouping of large, rapidly developing economies.

Originally known as “BRIC,” an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the organization was renamed “BRICS” in 2010 with the addition of South Africa.

Starting in 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will also be official members. Despite their different cultures, political systems, and economic models, these countries aim to develop together and strengthen their position on the global stage.

BRICS now accounts for about a third of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 45 percent of the world’s population. The member nations are also participants in international organizations such as the G20, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Group of 77, as well as numerous regional associations.

The organization’s activities are coordinated at an annual summit hosted by a different member country each year. Russia assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2024.

History of BRICS

The concept of BRICS was first proposed in the early 2000s by Goldman Sachs analysts, who predicted that the economic growth of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would have a major impact on the global economy in the coming years.

The first meeting of the group was held on September 20, 2006, at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly. It was attended by the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, and China, as well as the defense minister of India. The countries expressed their interest in expanding multilateral cooperation.

The first BRIC Summit was held in Ekaterinburg in 2009. The joint declaration issued at the end of the summit emphasized that cooperation among BRIC countries not only serves the common interests of developing economies but also contributes to world peace and prosperity.

The group’s goal was to create a platform for cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure projects, energy efficiency, new technologies, and culture.

BRICS relations are based on the UN Charter, universal principles, and norms of international law. The basic principles of BRICS—openness, pragmatism, solidarity, non-alignment, and neutrality towards third parties—were adopted at the 2011 summit.

Aims and objectives of BRICS

Today, BRICS is pursuing several key objectives:

• Economic cooperation: The BRICS countries aim to create a sustainable economic environment for all participants. Priorities include improving trade relations, promoting investment, expanding infrastructure projects, and combating poverty and social inequality. The group also aims to increase the use of national currencies in mutual agreements.

• Political dialogue: The countries support multipolarity in the international arena and work to define common positions on key issues. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the creation of a parliamentary structure within BRICS, announced at the BRICS Parliamentary Forum.

• Social development: BRICS members seek to improve health, education, and social protection in their respective countries. For example, the BRICS countries have launched a program to combat infectious diseases through data sharing, joint clinical trials, and the development of new vaccines. In 2023, a malaria vaccine developed by scientists from India and South Africa, with a 90 percent success rate, was introduced in many African countries.

• Scientific and technological cooperation: BRICS places great emphasis on innovation and technological advancement. In 2023, the International Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence was opened in Russia in cooperation with universities and companies from BRICS countries. The center hosts major projects such as the development of intelligent systems for healthcare and industry. Investments in this area are expected to exceed $10 billion by 2025.

BRICS institutional organization

BRICS activities are not limited to annual summits. Many working groups and councils within the organization carry out the tasks defined at these summits. Among these structures, the Council of Expert Centres, the Business Council, and the Science Council stand out.

Additionally, various events are organized, such as BRICS+, the International Municipal Forum, the Parliamentary Forum, and the International Innovation Forum. These forums will be held in Russia in 2024.

Two financial institutions that deserve special attention are the Foreign Exchange Reserve Pool and the New Development Bank (NDB). These institutions play a critical role in maintaining financial stability and financing infrastructure projects in member countries. The Foreign Exchange Reserve Pool, established to ensure financial stability, has a capital of $100 billion.

The New Development Bank, meanwhile, aims to strengthen financial cooperation between member countries and support infrastructure projects. The bank is chaired by former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff. It has approved renewable energy and infrastructure projects worth around $8 billion and has financed 98 projects totaling $33.2 billion.

Russia’s presidency

In 2024, Russia is hosting several important BRICS-related events. These include the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, extended meetings with representatives of the Global South and East, and meetings with the heads of supreme courts, law enforcement agencies, and space agencies. An international bipartisan forum was held in Vladivostok.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated that, in accordance with the decisions of the Johannesburg Summit, BRICS will continue to work on creating financial mechanisms resistant to external risks and increasing the use of national currencies in BRICS trade and investment transactions.

Additionally, Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, will host the 16th BRICS Summit from October 22-24, 2024.

In June, Kazan also hosted the BRICS Games, where athletes from 50 countries participated in competitions across 25 sports held at 12 different venues.

U.S. President Joe Biden met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his visit to Germany.

President Steinmeier presented Biden, who is visiting Germany before the end of his term, with the country’s highest award for “German-American friendship.”

In awarding Biden the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Steinmeier called him a “beacon of democracy.” According to Steinmeier, the award honors Biden’s “decades of dedication to the transatlantic alliance.”

Steinmeier also remarked on the “historic opportunity” presented by Biden’s presidency, particularly during the war in Ukraine.

“This honor means a great deal to me,” Biden said in response. He noted that the U.S. and Germany share a long and complex history, adding that the “power of democracy” and the importance of alliances should never be underestimated.

Biden is the second U.S. president to receive this award, following George H.W. Bush.

Meeting with Holocaust survivor friedländer

During the reception at Bellevue Palace, Biden also met with 102-year-old Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor. Although Biden had originally planned to visit the Holocaust memorial near the U.S. Embassy at the Brandenburg Gate, the ceremony was canceled due to the brief nature of his visit.

Biden expressed his gratitude to the German government for its commitment to “fighting anti-Semitism and extremism.”

ZDF correspondent: Biden’s visit may not be remembered

“The German leadership had the wisdom to recognize a turning point in history,” Biden said, thanking Germany for its support of Ukraine and praising Berlin’s “incredible commitment” to Kyiv.

He highlighted Germany’s tireless efforts to help Ukraine achieve victory, stressing that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would fail, and NATO would emerge more unified than ever.

Biden later met with Chancellor Scholz, and the two leaders held a joint press conference.

At the press conference, both Biden and Scholz addressed the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. However, according to ZDF correspondent Dominik Rzepka, their statements were somewhat vague, particularly regarding Ukraine. “For example, they didn’t mention the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO,” Rzepka noted.

Rzepka suggested that because of this lack of concrete detail, Biden’s visit might not leave a lasting impact or yield significant outcomes.

Comments on Hamas, Sinwar, and Kyiv

The two leaders also spoke about the latest developments in the Middle East. Scholz claimed that the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had “opened a corridor for a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Biden, meanwhile, raised the idea of pursuing a ceasefire without involving Hamas.

“We will also ensure that NATO does not become a party to the war, so it does not escalate into a greater catastrophe,” Scholz added, reiterating that Germany would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’s “strong and unwavering” support for Kyiv, highlighting that both Berlin and Washington are among the leading supporters of Ukraine’s “fight for survival as a free and independent nation.”