Germany seeks to restrict economic ties with Turkey: Merkel

Chancellor Angela Merkel says Berlin plans to restrict its business with Ankara in an attempt to pressure the Turkish government to release German citizens imprisoned in the country over political reasons.

"We will have to further cut back our joint economic cooperation with Turkey and scrutinize projects," Merkel said in a Saturday interview with the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper in response to a question about how to secure the release of 12 German detainees in Turkey.

On Tuesday, Merkel also said that Germany would restrict some arms sales to Turkey.

Ties between Turkey and Germany have been strained over a host of issues since the 2016 failed coup against the government in Ankara. Berlin has been critical of Ankara’s post-coup crackdown and the arrest of German citizens, while Turkey accuses the European country of harboring “terrorist” organizations, which are against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two countries have also clashed over Germany’s alleged support for Kurdish opponents of the Turkish government and its opposition against a controversial referendum in Turkey in April, which gave Erdogan new sweeping powers. German authorities at the time prevented some pro-Erdogan campaigns in the country, a move that infuriated the Turkish president.

SS