German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that he appreciates Turkey's role in foreign 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 and security policy areas. Turkey is an important strategic ally for us."

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

Pointing out that they also saw the success achieved in Syria, Merz said, "This would likely not have been possible without the contribution of the President of Turkey. In this regard, Turkey makes a tremendous contribution to the stability of the region."

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

Chancellor Merz also stated that they are planning the next Germany-Turkey intergovernmental high-level strategic cooperation consultations, and that 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 stressed that NATO is uniquely strong and, above all, united.

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

Stating that no one questioned NATO's mission and fundamental sense of unity, Merz evaluated, "My expectations for this summit in Ankara have truly been more than met, and I see new momentum, especially on the European side."

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

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

Touching upon 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 will not be achieved and stated that now is the time to sit at the negotiating table.

Merz conveyed that he told President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that all efforts must be made to end this war, emphasizing that this war 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 he was surprised but pleased by Trump's use of the phrase "There is a feeling of love in the air" in his closing remarks.

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

Merz said that there are certainly points that Trump criticized, adding, "There is still an imbalance between the defense efforts of the United States and the other 31 member countries of NATO."

Merz stated that Trump acknowledges the efforts in this regard, and that although previous US presidents also brought up burden-sharing, they were not successful in this regard.

Explaining that Trump is doing this differently, Merz said, "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, "To put it perhaps a little more comfortably, the 'free-riding' of Europeans is now over."

Merz stated that they know Trump exerted pressure with a tough stance during his first presidential term, and said, "I want to express this with a more constructive perspective. The requests from previous American presidents, asking us in a friendly manner to 'Do a little more for your own defense now,' were ignored everywhere in Europe."

Stating that the current US President rudely said, "Enough is enough," Merz said that he is not offended by this.

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

When asked by a journalist 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 that Trump tried to explain the situation from his own perspective last night, and that from a European perspective, they told him that a solid and lasting agreement must be made with Iran that will ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains permanently open without any taxes or fees.

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