Germany said on Friday it was reviewing applications for arms projects from Turkey, accusing its NATO ally of ramping up covert operations as an attempt by a Turkish minister to calm a deepening bilateral crisis fell flat.
Germany's Economy Ministry says it's putting all applications for the export of defence equipment to Turkey under examination. "We're checking all applications," a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry said. The German news agency DPA reported that the ministry didn't give further details Friday. The Bild daily had reported earlier in the day that the government was putting all current and planned defence exports to Turkey, a NATO ally, on hold.
In 2016, the German government exported armaments worth 83.9 million euros to Turkey. In the first four months of 2017, the business worth 22 million euros was approved, for navy deliveries and joint projects with other NATO partners.
The German government sharpened its tone toward Ankara on Thursday following the jailing earlier this week of six human rights activists in Turkey, including a German citizen. It also told German citizens travelling to Turkey to exercise caution and threatened to withhold backing for investments.
