"In fact this action is a helpless gesture from Angela Merkel in order to stay in the good books of Turkish President Erdogan, who has his back to the wall because of the military successes of the Russians, Syrians and Kurds," DWN wrote.
Merkel traveled to Ankara on Monday to meet with Erdogan and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss ways of regulating the migrant crisis. She previously met the government in Ankara in October, when she described Turkey as the "key country" in tackling the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe.
Merkel and Davutoglu announced at a press conference after their meeting that Turkey and Germany will make a joint recommendation to NATO that the alliance involves itself in stopping the flow across the Aegean Sea to Europe, giving assistance to Turkey and the EU border agency Frontex.
"In particular, we will make a joint effort on the effective use of NATO's observation and monitoring mechanisms on the border and in the Aegean," Davutoglu told the press.
Es gibt kein moralisches Recht auf unbeschränkte Einwanderung — DWN https://t.co/tDTYurYjEE
— r2d2_Erlangen (@gutbranson) 11 февраля 2016
'NATO ships in the Aegean: Merkel is fighting to be in favor with Erdogan,' DWN reported.
DWN wrote that the proposal is little more than an empty gesture aimed at appeasing President Erdogan, who has threatened to open Europe's borders to millions more refugees if the EU does not accede to his demands for more money and support for Turkey's accession to the EU.
"The mission is old hat: since 2001 NATO has patrolled the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Active Endeavour."
