Germany may ‘rethink’ ties with Turkey after two more Germans detained by Ankara

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday sharply criticised Turkey’s detention of two German citizens, saying Berlin should react decisively and perhaps rethink its relations with Ankara.

Twelve German citizens are now in Turkish detention on political charges. Of them, four hold dual citizenship. Among them is German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel, whose detention hit the 200-day mark on Friday.

Under the circumstances, Merkel said she did not think it was appropriate to carry out further discussions with Ankara about its participation in a European Union customs union.

“We must react decisively,” Merkel told a business event in the southern city of Nuremberg, noting that Germany had already fundamentally revamped its relations with Ankara.

“Given the last day’s events, perhaps it is necessary to rethink them ever further.”

Germany was not officially told of the two new detentions, which took place at Antalya airport on Thursday, leaving Berlin’s consulate in the coastal city of Izmir to learn of their arrest from “non-state sources”, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr told a news conference.