German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he appreciated Turkey's role in foreign policy and security policy areas and that Turkey is an important strategic ally for Germany.

Speaking at a press conference after the NATO Summit in Ankara, Merz said, "I appreciate Turkey's role in foreign policy and security policy areas. Turkey is an important strategic ally for us."

Merz stated that during his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he once again expressed the great importance he attaches to working in close cooperation with Turkey as a NATO partner, even if only due to its geostrategic location.

Pointing to the success achieved in Syria, Merz said, "This probably would not have been possible without the contribution of the Turkish President. In this regard, Turkey makes an enormous contribution to the stability of the region."

Merz also stated that he asked President Erdoğan to use all available means in coordination with them, especially to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Chancellor Merz also stated that they are planning the next high-level strategic cooperation consultations between the German and Turkish governments, and his country will host these consultations.

"My expectations for the summit were more than met"

Emphasizing that the NATO Summit in Ankara was successful, Merz said, "We have taken an important step on the path to a new NATO."

Merz emphasized that NATO is uniquely strong and, above all, united.

Merz stated that he was deeply impressed by the contributions of the leaders of European countries, saying, "Not only a genuine sense of closeness and shared responsibility, but also a new sense of European responsibility was felt in the room."

Merz said that no one questioned NATO's mission and fundamental sense of unity, adding, "My expectations for this summit in Ankara were indeed more than met, and I see a new momentum, especially on the European side."

Merz explained that they are building a European NATO so that NATO can remain transatlantic, which is why he spoke of the "spirit of Ankara" during the working session held there.

Merz stated that Europeans are taking responsibility and making NATO stronger, but at the same time, they are also making the burden-sharing fairer and moving away from unilateral dependencies.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, Merz said, "Ukraine is defending not only its own freedom but also ours against Russian aggression."

Merz reiterated that Russia's war aims cannot be achieved, stating that it is now time to sit at the negotiating table.

Merz stated that he told President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that all efforts must be made to end this war, as it is straining society not only economically but also socially and politically.

Merz's remarks on US President Trump

Merz also made evaluations regarding US President Donald Trump, stating that Trump used the phrase "There's a feeling of love in the air" in his closing speech, which surprised him but also made him happy.

Merz stated that Trump attended all sessions at the summit and did not leave the room, carefully listening to the representatives of the smaller member countries in the Alliance.

Merz said that there were, of course, points Trump criticized, adding, "There is still an imbalance between the defense efforts of the US and the remaining 31 NATO member countries."

Merz stated that Trump, however, accepted the efforts on this issue, and although previous US Presidents had also raised burden-sharing, no success had been achieved in this regard.

Merz explained that Trump did this differently, saying, "But the result is in his favor. We are all doing more."

Merz stated that they are doing this not to please some NATO member countries, but for their own interests, adding, "Perhaps to put it a bit more casually, the 'free-riding' of Europeans has now come to an end."

Merz stated that they knew Trump often exerted pressure with a tough stance during his first presidential term, adding, "I want to express this from a more constructive perspective. The friendly requests from the previous American presidents for us to 'do a little more for our own defense' were ignored throughout Europe."

Merz stated that the current US President bluntly said, "Enough is enough," but added that he was not offended by it.

Merz commented, "If you just look at the numbers, you see what the Americans spend for NATO and what we spend for NATO. The ratio is 80 to 20. The US is 80, Europe, the rest of NATO, is 20. This is unacceptable."

When a journalist asked for his thoughts on the US President saying he would attack Iran more harshly tonight, Merz underlined that this issue also played a role in the discussions.

Merz stated that he did not want to violate the confidentiality of the discussions, but Trump tried to explain the situation from his perspective last night, and from a European perspective, they told him that a robust and lasting agreement must be made with Iran to ensure the permanent opening of the Strait of Hormuz without any taxes or fees.

Merz emphasized that an agreement must be reached, especially regarding the nuclear program, and argued that the violation of the agreement clearly originated from Iran, and the American armed forces responded harshly in accordance with Trump's orders.