German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday defended his country's recently growing defence exports to Turkey, citing the membership of both countries in the NATO alliance as one reason. "Turkey is a member of NATO and that is why we always make decisions that there will be concrete deliveries.

Germany has lifted curbs on military exports that were imposed after Turkey's 2016 ground offensive in northern Syria. During talks in Istanbul, the chancellor spoke of "concrete deliveries" to the fellow NATO member.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Istanbul. Both leaders discussed bilateral concerns and opportunities for cooperation on Saturday.

A Turkish defense ministry official says Turkey has been conducting technical work aimed at accelerating its planned purchase of the jets