site.btaGerman, Turkish Foreign Ministers Discuss Middle East Conflict, EU Membership, Ukraine War

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discussed tensions in the Persian Gulf, Turkiye’s European Union aspirations, the war in Ukraine and NATO cooperation during talks in Berlin on Monday.

A major focus of the meeting was the situation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Wadephul said diplomatic contacts with Tehran were continuing and expressed optimism that negotiations could still produce progress. He stressed that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons or pose a threat to regional stability, adding that diplomacy remained the preferred path forward.

Fidan called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and warned against further escalation in the Gulf. He said Turkiye was working closely with international partners, including the United States, Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to support ongoing mediation efforts and encourage dialogue between the parties involved.

The ministers also reviewed bilateral trade and economic relations, including efforts to modernize the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and Ankara’s long-standing bid for full EU membership. Fidan argued that relations between Turkiye and the EU should be shaped by strategic cooperation rather than political disputes, pointing to shared interests in migration, regional security, energy corridors and counterterrorism.

Ukraine was another key topic during the talks. Wadephul described Russia’s war against Ukraine as the greatest security threat facing Europe and thanked Turkiye for helping facilitate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Fidan said the war continuing into a fifth year would be unacceptable and reiterated Ankara’s support for diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement.