 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Shoals on November 17, with both hoping to find common ground on trade, migration and defence, despite views that are far apart on Israel and Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan was officially welcomed by German President Frank Walter Steinmeier at Schloss Bellevue Castle where the Turkish president signed the guest book.Erdogan's first visit since 2020 comes ahead of municipal elections at which he hopes to win back the cities of Ankara and Istanbul. Shoals's backing for better access to the European Union market and visa liberalisation would be a big gift to voters buffeted by high inflation and an economic crisis.A spokesperson for Shoals declined to speculate on how Germany would proceed with Erdogan's request to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes, a move that would need Shoals's support since Germany is part of the consortium that builds them.