Berlin blocks fighter jet sale to Turkey over Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest

Germany’s outgoing government is said to have blocked a British proposal to sell dozens of Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets to Turkey after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, potentially creating significant ­tensions between London and Berlin.

Britain is understood to have been ­finalising a deal for about 40 of the jets after John Healey, the defence secretary, visited his counterpart in Ankara.

British officials argue that Turkey is regarded not only as an increasingly ­indispensable Nato ally but also as an important market for the aircraft, which sustains about 20,000 jobs in Britain but is manufactured with partners in Germany, Italy and Spain.