On September 28, 2024, reports emerged from Germany indicating that the federal government has initiated the deportation of several hundred individuals to Turkey, with more expected to follow. However, Turkish officials have denied these claims, stating that discussions regarding the return of individuals with no legal right to stay in Germany were not addressed in a recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New York.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson refuted the German media reports, emphasizing that the topic was not discussed during the high-level talks. Meanwhile, a German government spokesperson maintained that discussions with Turkey regarding migration policies and return cooperation are ongoing but described the specifics as confidential.
Experts suggest that Turkey may be leveraging the situation to extract further concessions from Germany, particularly given the current pressures on the German government regarding migration policy. Turkish analyst Eren Güvercin indicated that Erdoğan is likely trying to maximize benefits amid the political climate in Germany, which is under scrutiny for its handling of migration.
In a further denial, Erdoğan's communications agency stated that the German media reports are unfounded, urging caution against relying on unverified claims.