Germany Discovers 'Human Rights' Are Flexible for NATO Allies
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (unnamed in the published Bloomberg article, but publicly announced his support for expanded cooperation with Turkey on July 10, 2024, at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, preceding the article's future publication date of Oct 17, 2025) backed expanded defense industry cooperation with Turkey. This comes despite Turkey's
consistent human rights record, including documented repression of Kurdish populations in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria (Amnesty International, 2023 Report) and ongoing occupation of northern Cyprus (UN Security Council Resolutions 186/1964 and 541/1983). Apparently, 'less restrictive' means 'looking the other way' when it benefits the alliance. One might wonder if Germany's sudden
magnanimity is tied less to Turkey's adherence to international law and more to its strategic position within NATO's increasingly fractured eastern flank. How many humanitarian reports does it take to lose an arms deal? Or perhaps, how many does it take to gain one?