Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Germany with two goals: to angle for more economic help from Berlin amid US sanctions that are battering the Turkish economy, and to seek political support among the Turkish diaspora in the country.

The Turkish president arrived on Thursday in Berlin for a two-day visit with his country's currency crisis also high on the agenda.

The lira lost nearly 40 percent of its value this year due to concerns about Erdogan's grip on monetary policy as well as US-imposed additional tariffs on Turkish imports over the trial of evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. 

Turkey also raised tariffs on some US imports in a tit-for-tat measure. However, it was the Turkish economy that is suffering as the country faces its worst economic crisis in 15 years. Inflation is high and foreign debt spiraling. 

The crisis appears to have led Erdogan to change his tone; last year he asked Germans of Turkish origin not to vote for Chancellor Angela Merkel in the September elections, labeling her governing coalition as the enemy of Turkey and accusing Germany of having anti-Turkish and anti-Muslim sentiments.

After Merkel's bitter election victory, Erdogan appeared to have been pleased with her misfortune. 

Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News then quoted Erdogan as saying that Merkel would not be able to form a government.  

The countries' relations have been difficult since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 that Germany saw as a pretext to quash dissent.

Berlin criticized Turkey for what it called dismantling the rule of law and for the April 2017 referendum. The arrest of German human rights activists and journalists in Turkey further damaged ties between the countries.

Things have changed

"Our priority will be completely leaving behind the period experienced in recent years in our political ties," he said earlier this week. "In addition, it will be the steps that can be taken to enhance our economic ties on a mutually beneficial basis."

Erdogan looks to improve business ties and reassure financial markets during his first visit to Turkey's main economic and trade partner since 2014. As it stands, the country has a bilateral trade relationship of 43.6 billion US dollars with Germany.

There is no doubt that Turkey needs economic support, but it is not going to be smooth sailing for Erdogan as many fear past tensions will return. 

According to local media reports, politicians are warming up to give Erdogan the cold shoulder and hundreds of people turned out in the German capital Berlin last week to protest his visit.

Germany Handelsblatt Global newspaper said many politicians, reportedly including the chancellor herself, have decided not to attend a state dinner with Erdogan and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, despite the fact that Germany expects Turkey to keep hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees from traveling to Western Europe, and, according to officials in Berlin, the aim of the visit is to mend strained ties with an important NATO ally.

The next thing

Erdogan, whose roots many in Germany think are in political Islam, is also eyeing a stronger domestic support base by opening Europe's largest mosque in Cologne because Germany is home to the largest population of Turks outside of Turkey and many of them voted for him in the last election.

Europe's biggest economy has a three to four million strong Turkish diaspora, the largest in the world, and what makes them important for Erdogan is the fact that around half of them have voting rights in both the countries due to their dual citizenship status. 

Turkey's June election results showed about two-thirds of votes cast by the Turkish community in Germany went to Erdogan. 

Supporters took to the streets in multiple German cities chanting slogans and waving Turkish flags to celebrate his victory. 

Though Erdogan already enjoys the considerable backing of German-Turks, he seeks to shore up their support in perpetuity.

(Cover: Turkish President Erdogan arrived in Berlin to start a visit to Germany. /VCG Photo)