Germany Opposes Erdogan's Speech at Turkish Gathering in Hamburg

On Monday, the German government requested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to refrain from speaking at a gathering of Turks residing in Germany on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg. Reuters reports that last week, Germany rejected Turkey's request for Erdogan to address the Turkish community in Hamburg. Martin Schaefer, spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday that Erdogan's presence at the Turkish consulate or his speech via video for the attendees would be considered a violation of Germany's sovereignty, reflecting deep-seated disagreements between the two countries. Relations between Germany and Turkey have soured over the past year, especially following the failed military coup in July of last year. Prior to the Turkish constitutional referendum, Germany prevented Turkish officials from speaking in the country, escalating the verbal conflict between Berlin and Ankara, with Erdogan accusing German officials of behaving like 'Nazis.' However, the German Foreign Ministry spokesperson clarified that any such presence must be requested in advance. Schaefer emphasized that while Germany cannot prevent Erdogan from speaking at the Turkish consulate, it has options that could influence such actions. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel stated last week that he does not wish to see internal conflicts in Turkey spill over into the Turkish community in Germany. The G20 summit will be held this week in Hamburg. German media previously reported that nationalists supporting Erdogan and his Kurdish opponents may protest during the G20 meeting, raising concerns about potential clashes in Hamburg during the summit. According to Reuters, the Turkish community in Germany is estimated to number around three million.