The Turkish economy was rattled by US sanctions. Earlier in August, US President Donald Trump said he had authorized an increase of levies on aluminum and steel exports from Turkey, up to 20 and 50 percent respectively.
In response, Ankara raised levies on several types of US imports, including tobacco and alcohol. In addition, Turkey already lodged a dispute complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the US tariffs.
Germany to the Rescue
However, the government spokesman swiftly remarked that the issue of financial aid was not under discussion at the moment.
Europe cannot do much to help Turkey as it does not have its own equivalent of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Etienne de Callatay, the former chief economist of private bank Degroof in Brussels, and now a partner at Orcadia financial services firm in Luxembourg, told Sputnik.
"Turkey should try to convince the IMF to give them guarantees to stabilize the currency. It is the only serious advice that Merkel can give," Callatay said.
READ MORE: Turkish Finance Minister Downplays Economic Risks Amid Ongoing US Spat
Incidentally, the German foreign minister said last week that Europe needed its own IMF equivalent as well as a payment system independent from the United States.
"The other practical thing that Germany can do is to create a temporary mechanism to give a special insurance to German companies trading with Turkey or producing in Turkey. There are many Turkish component manufacturers working for German firms; that would be a little help," Callatay said.
No Threat to Euro
Germany may not have enough incentives to want to help Turkey as a potential crisis in Turkey would not be a significant threat to the euro, the economist believes.
"There would be repercussions of course, but the Turkish economy is not large enough to really threaten a destabilization of the EU," Callatay argued.
On the other hand, a serious crisis in Turkey would influence the German and European economy and trade and might result in "new geopolitical turmoil, with implications in Syria, Lebanon or Iraq," the chief economist of ING bank in Amsterdam, Carsten Brzeski, told Sputnik.
According to the expert, Germany is mostly worried about the Middle East.
Callatay agrees that the Europeans might be concerned over Turkey's ability to welcome migrants under the 2016 deal, which aimed to ease the strain on the European Union. However, the economist argued that Erdogan would have more to lose in this situation.
"He [Erdogan] cannot afford to lose the billions of euro that the EU is giving Turkey to deal with the victims of the Syrian conflict," the economist said.
No Strings
Brzeski pointed out that financial aid from Europe would likely come with preconditions, but Ankara could hardly agree to that.
"Any financial aid, however, would clearly not come for free. And it is doubtful that Erdogan would accept any [political] strings attached," ING chief economist said.
Explaining the need for any such measures to the voters in Germany could also be a challenge, Brzeski added.
"Any financial aid could not easily be sold to the German electorate, given that there are still several German[-Turkish] citizens imprisoned in Turkey," the economist said.
Despite all potential complications, Brzeski believes that the German government is looking into aid options.
The two countries' finance ministers discussed the sanctions in mid-August and agreed to meet in Berlin in September. Erdogan will also pay a visit to Germany, scheduled for September 29-29.
The views and opinions expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
