Erdogan Receives German State Premier Wüst in Rare Ankara Meeting
North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on September 28, 2026, in a rare protocol move. The 50-minute meeting covered economic cooperation, EU-Turkey customs union modernization, and visa facilitation. Wüst, considered a potential successor to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reaffirmed his intention to remain state premier. The visit marks the first by an NRW leader to Turkey, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labor recruitment agreement.
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German State Premier Wüst Says Erdogan Very Interested in German Domestic Politics After Ankara Meeting
North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst stated that during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the conversation also covered German domestic politics. According to Wüst, Erdogan showed strong interest in recent election results in Germany. The meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement between German state-level leadership and the Turkish government, with Erdogan's focus on German electoral outcomes suggesting a keen observation of political shifts in Europe's largest economy. The report, published by Die Welt on September 29, 2026, attributes the remarks directly to Wüst, who characterized Erdogan's curiosity about the internal political situation in Germany.
Read sourceHendrik Wüst Received by Turkish President Erdogan in Surprise Meeting
In a surprise development, Hendrik Wüst, the Minister-President of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting, reported by Die Welt on September 28, 2026, focused on the bilateral relations between NRW and Turkey. The specific outcomes or details of the discussions were not disclosed in the brief report. The visit underscores the ongoing diplomatic and economic ties between the German state, which hosts a large Turkish diaspora, and Turkey.
NRW Premier Wüst meets Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara amid German leadership speculation
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Minister-President Hendrik Wüst met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on September 28, 2026, in a rare protocol move that elevates the regional leader's visit. The meeting, announced on short notice, focused on bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and political issues. Wüst's three-day trip marks the first visit by an NRW leader to Turkey and coincides with the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labor recruitment agreement. NRW has close ties to Turkey, with nearly one million residents of Turkish origin and over 10 billion euros in trade volume. Wüst praised Turkish migrants' contribution to Germany's post-war economic recovery, calling them 'natural bridge builders,' and criticized past treatment of them as an 'integration task' or 'problem.' The visit draws national attention as Wüst is considered a potential successor to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who faces declining popularity and poor election results. Wüst has publicly reaffirmed support for Merz and stated his intention to remain NRW premier.
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German state premier Wüst meets Erdogan in Ankara, thanks Turkish migrants for economic contribution
North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara for an unusually high-level 50-minute meeting at the presidential palace. The CDU politician advocated for closer economic ties, including modernization of the EU-Turkey customs union and faster business visa procedures. Wüst, who is seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reaffirmed his intention to remain state premier. The visit marks the first trip by a NRW leader to Turkey and coincides with the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labor recruitment agreement. Wüst thanked Turkish migrants for their role in Germany's post-war economic recovery, stating that without them the economic boom would not have been possible. The meeting covered economic cooperation, EU relations, and visa facilitation. While the human rights situation in Turkey was reportedly discussed with concern, the state government emphasized maintaining open dialogue. The meeting's protocol significance was highlighted by the fact that Erdogan rarely receives regional German leaders.
Read sourceErdogan unexpectedly receives NRW Premier Wüst in Turkey for rare meeting
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a three-day visit to Turkey, according to delegation sources. The meeting, which was not originally on Wüst's schedule and was finalized only on Monday, is considered unusual protocol-wise and is seen as a sign of appreciation for Wüst in Turkey, where one million people of Turkish origin live. Wüst, who is visiting Ankara and Istanbul until Wednesday, is viewed as a potential successor candidate amid the severe crisis facing party leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. At the start of his trip, Wüst called for a modernization of the EU-Turkey customs union, describing it as overdue and a major opportunity for NRW. Turkey has long demanded such reforms, but the project, along with visa liberalization and EU accession talks, has been frozen due to rule-of-law backsliding. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed strengthening EU-Turkey relations with Erdogan in June.