Türkiye and Germany Revive Strategic Dialogue Amid EU Accession Discussions

On May 18, 2026, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with German officials in Berlin to revive the Türkiye-Germany Strategic Dialogue Mechanism after 12 years. This mechanism aims to address strategic issues, including security and defense cooperation, and is a response to improved bilateral relations. Fidan emphasized the need for the EU to decouple Türkiye's accession process from political motivations, arguing that exclusion from EU defense frameworks undermines European security goals. The bilateral trade between Türkiye and Germany is currently around $52 billion, with aspirations to reach $60 billion. The discussions also included Türkiye's defense industry cooperation and the modernization of the customs union with the EU. Fidan's visit comes amid ongoing regional tensions, including conflicts involving Iran and Israel, which were also addressed during the talks.

Key Points: • Türkiye and Germany are reviving their Strategic Dialogue Mechanism after 12 years. • Fidan urged the EU to separate Türkiye's accession process from political issues. • Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Germany is projected to reach $60 billion soon.