Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım stated that the Turkish government is wishing for Berlin’s participation in the production of its allegedly "national and domestic" Altay tanks, saying, "this cooperation would benefit to Germany because most of the crucial parts and engines of the tanks are imported from Germany. The simpler parts are made in Turkey."
Photographs of the tanks used in 'Operation Olive Branch' being carried out in Syria’s Afrin by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) stirred controversy in the German public opinion.
Saying that the use of German-made tanks by Turkey in the operation in Syria does not pose a legal problem, the Turkish PM stated, "Of course, we will use them. We purchased them for these days. When will we use these weapons, if we do not use them against attacks carried out against our country?"
The Turkish PM also stated that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would visit Merkel after the formation of a new government in Germany.
