Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is friends with terrorist organizations, accuses Israel of committing genocide, and compares Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler. But Germany sees Turkey under Erdoğan as an important ally. After approving millions’ worth of arms exports to Turkey earlier this month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to Turkey on October 19 to further strengthen their relations.

“Germany and Turkey want to cooperate more closely again after years of restraint in the arms sector,” German public broadcaster zdf reported October 19. For Chancellor Scholz, this is “a matter of course” given Turkey’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Previously, Germany had drastically reduced its arms exports to Turkey after its offensive in Syria in 2016. This is now changing.

Der Spiegel reported on October 6 that Germany recently approved €336 million (us$400.3 million) worth of arms exports to Turkey. Among the approved licenses are 100 guided missiles for the air defense of ships, 28 SeaHake torpedoes, material for the modernization of Turkish U209 submarines, and engine parts for Turkish corvettes and frigates.

Turkey is also planning to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets, coproduced by Germany, which had previously blocked the sale. During his recent visit to Turkey, Scholz indicated that Germany would no longer obstruct the purchase. Erdoğan expressed hope that this would “finally put the problems of the past in connection with the procurement of defense industry products behind us.”

After a break of almost nine years, Scholz and Erdoğan also want to revive the German-Turkish government consultations, zdf reported. Scholz said: “Bilateral relations, we have both said here, are developing very well and they will also be further expanded.”

All of this is despite the fact that Turkey under Erdoğan pursues a hostile policy toward Israel. During Scholz’s visit, Erdoğan reiterated his stance. “We expect all political actors to take the initiative and put a stop to Israel’s aggressive policies,” he said, accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians and denouncing its attacks in Lebanon.

Scholz merely said: “It’s no secret that we also have different views on Israel.”

In the decades after World War ii, Germany has publicly vowed to stand at Israel’s side, becoming one of its most important allies. But if Germany had really repented of its past, why would it cooperate so closely with an overt enemy of the Israeli government?

Some might believe Germany’s relations with Turkey are warming despite Turkey’s hostilities toward Israel. But Bible prophecy not only foretells the alliance between these two countries but also a shocking motive.

In his 2011 article “A Mysterious Prophecy,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry explains that Psalm 83 speaks of an unprecedented alliance that mentions, among others: Turkey (Edom), Saudi Arabia (Ishmaelites), Syria (Hagarenes) and Germany (Assur). It also reveals the purpose of the alliance: “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (verse 4).

This alliance doesn’t form despite disagreements about Israel—which prophetically also includes the United States and Britain—but because of joint hatred for Israel. The details of this shocking alliance and the hope that all prophecy contains is explained in Mr. Flurry’s article “The Hidden Danger in Germany’s ‘Alliance Against Iran.’”