Why, in the recent years,the German attitude towards Turkey has hardened?

Strange enough up to now German foreign policy and that of the European Union towards Turkey was very much dependent on the US relations with Turkey and Europe. After President Trump took office the US policy towards Europe has economically and politically become more independent as demonstrated by the failure to develop a free trade agreement between the US and the European Union. US accuses Europe for its protectionist economic policies and Europe accuses US of becoming also a protectionist state as demonstrated by its imposition of  additional tax on steel products imported from the EU countries. As a result, German policy towards Turkey has become more independent from US policies and more dependednt on the general attitude of EU countries in the face of recent developments in the region and much criticized Turkish domestic and  foreign policies not in harmony with the EU policies.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Chancellor Merkel’s approach to Turkey’s role in Syria is an outcome of the overall changes in the foreign policy of the new coalition Government in Germany.