Turkey threatens to scrap refugee deal with European Union as diplomatic row escalates

Also over the weekend, the Netherlands escorted Turkey’s family affairs minister out of the country and refused to let its foreign minister land there.

Hostility has been brewing between Turkey and Germany, as well as Ankara and the Netherlands, after Turkish officials were banned from campaiging for a Turkish referendum overseas.

The Turkish minister reminded of a decision by US President Donald Trump to bar citizens of eight Muslim countries from entering the United States, which caused the criticism of the European Union.

Cavusoglu said Thursday there is “no difference” between Rutte and the losing right-wing candidate Geert Wilders, whom Cavusoglu referred to as a “fascist”.

What is the row about?

Eker has already spoken at several rallies of AKP supporters in Germany ahead of the April 16 referendum. “The first batch of Holsteins have been loaded and we will send them back”.

If Turkish people voted “Yes” on the referendum, the Turkish president will be allowed to appoint ministers and prepare budgets along with other major powers.

Mr Erdogan believes ties will improve under Mr Trump.

In Germany, there are over 1.4 million Turkish citizens eligible to vote while there are almost 250,000 in the Netherlands, according to official figures from November 2015.

However, Mr Erdogan’s supporters have found themselves blocked from holding these rallies.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland sought to prevent referendum rallies taking place on their soil – citing security and overcrowding concerns.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s party won Wednesday’s election in the Netherlands.

As Europe deals with a number of consequential elections this year, the last thing it needs is a spat with its neighbor, and aspiring European Union member, Turkey.

What has Turkey’s response been?

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, EU Council President Donald Tusk noted that the Nazi comments followed a dispute over campaign appearances in Rotterdam – a city that was bombed by Nazi Germany in World War II and now has a Moroccan-born mayor.

Merkel stated that Turkish political leaders are permitted to appear in the country under certain conditions: they must disclose who will appear and for what goal, and the foreign politicians must abide by Germany’s laws and constitutional principles. “We Syrian Turkmens would like to reiterate that we are with the republic of Turkey under all terms and conditions”, the group said, shouting Allah Akbar (God is great).

De Maiziere said it was important to note that “we have. a Turkish government that is apparently having difficulty winning the referendum and is using other topics, the supposed conflict with Europe, to increase approval of its policies and the means to do that is provocation”.