Until Turkey produces its own indigenous fighter jet, KAAN, it is trying to close its air defense gap by importing F-16 and Eurofighter jets. Previously, Turkey had wanted to close this gap with the F-35, but when the Americans refused to provide the planes, other searches were started. Recently, the Americans approved the sale of F-16 Block 70 jets, but their delivery will take years and the Americans may prevent the sale with any excuse.
As for the Eurofighter, just as the German obstacle was about to be lifted, Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently vetoed the sale. It is not known whether the veto of Scholz, the most unsuccessful prime minister in German history, who will leave the chancellorship in 10-15 days, will be lifted by the new prime minister Friedrich Merz, but this move of the Germans did not come as a surprise at all. In fact, we were waiting to see when and for what reason this move would come. On this occasion, we learned the reason. Scholz vetoed the sale because “İmamoğlu was imprisoned and democracy was assassinated”.
This excuse is not surprising. The Germans and the western world in general protect politicians and groups close to them, whether they are thieves, cheats or terrorists. It is no coincidence that everyone who betrayed the country recently fled to Germany. By imposing embargoes, these German administrations have taken revenge in their own way.
If they were really consistent, their decisions would be understandable. However, as it can be seen, the German government, which does not sell jets to Turkey, is a partner in the genocide in Gaza. Israel gave Israel whatever weapons it wanted. Although massacres and assassinations have been carried out with those weapons, they still (and will continue to) support Israel. Actually, speaking of Israel, the possibility that Israel may have tried to prevent the sale should not be ignored. In fact, our local boycotters may have even gone to Germany and told the Germans to boycott by not selling airplanes. Or maybe the Germans’ decision is an individual decision. We cannot know.
But we know that Germany makes good money from the goods it sells to Turkey. German cars are sold the most in Turkey. German brands dominate the market and they earn a lot of money every year from the Turkish people. This is also the case for German companies. But when it comes to an important component that Turkey needs, they impose an embargo. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was delayed because of some materials that Siemens did not provide. The Altay tank was delayed because the German MTU engine was not supplied. There are many more commercial German embargoes like this. Not to forget the visa embargo on Turkish people.
In this situation, it will not be enough for the government to just complain. At the very least, alternative materials should not be purchased from German companies. Turkey is now a country that can cause a certain level of damage as it is damaged. It must be responded with tit for tat.
On the one hand, it would be better to be fully convinced that one cannot rely on the hands of others and, if necessary, to be patient until the serial production of KAANs and focus on domestic production. For this purpose, it should not try too hard to enter the F-35 project. In fact, the more the other side sees the willingness, the more excuses they come up with. None of this is necessary. So far, the damages of embargoes have been temporary, while the benefits have been permanent. If there are F-35s, F-15s and Eurofighters in the country at the same time, there will be a complacency and the motivation for domestic production will end.
The only solution is both to respond to embargoes with embargoes and to produce what is not given domestically. Because the ready-made product is both addictive and lazy.
