BERLIN — Berlin on Monday slams Ankara’s refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit a NATO base near Syria and warns it could move its troops elsewhere.
The German foreign ministry describes as “absolutely unacceptable” Turkey’s latest ban on a visit to the Incirlik base in southern Turkey, used by the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
Germany has about 250 military personnel stationed there, flying Tornado surveillance missions over Syria and refuelling flights for partner nations battling IS jihadists.
Chancellor Angela Merkel says Turkey’s position is “unfortunate” and that Germany, while continuing talks to resolve the issue, would also “search for alternatives to Incirlik,” including in Jordan.
A defense ministry spokesman says Jordan offers “the best conditions” after Berlin had also looked at Kuwait and Cyprus since Turkey first denied such visits to German MPs for several months last year.
Turkey rejects the latest lawmakers’ visit because of anger over Germany granting political asylum to some of its military officials since last year’s failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer suggests.
— AFP
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