Germany and Turkey fail to agree on Incirlik airbase

Series Title
Series Details 06.06.17
Publication Date 06/06/2017
Content Type

Background:

The decision by Turkey's government to impose restrictions on members of Germany's parliament was seen as a result of the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In September 2016, the airbase was involved in a dispute over a resolution from the German parliament recognising the Armenian massacre as genocide. The diplomatic relations between the two countries kept deteriorating in the run up to a referendum on constitutional reforms in Turkey, when Germany refused to allow Turkish politicians to campaign in the country.

The latest decision not to allow parliamentarians into the airbase resulted from Germany's decision to grant asylum to a number of officials and citizens accused of taking part in an attempted coup against the Turkish government in July 2016.

Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel announced on 5 June 2017 the country was removing its armed forces from Turkey's Incirlik airbase because of restrictions imposed on German lawmakers seeking to visit troops there.

Mr Gabriel stated the search for an alternative location for the troops was going to begin shortly. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen reported on 18 June that the Bundeswehr troops would begin pulling out from Incirlik in July and begin a move to Jordan. The decision was endorsed by the Parliament on 21 June. The complete move was expected to take three months.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/germany-says-has-no-choice-but-to-pull-forces-from-turkish-air-base/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Understanding Turkey’s Anger With The West [Social Europe, April 2017] http://www.europeansources.info/record/understanding-turkeys-anger-with-the-west/
ESO: Background information: From Ankara with love/hate [ECFR Commentary, December 2016] http://www.europeansources.info/record/from-ankara-with-love-hate/
TRT World, 31.05.17: Ankara says German MPs visit to Incirlik 'out of the question' http://www.trtworld.com/turkey/ankara-says-german-mps-visit-to-incirlik-out-of-the-question-368888
Deutsche Welle, 21.05.17: NATO chief in talks with Germany, Turkey over Incirlik dispute http://p.dw.com/p/2dLIJ
RT, 20.05.17: Germany sees ‘potential’ in Jordan base to replace Turkey’s Incirlik – defense minister https://www.rt.com/news/389079-germany-jordan-airbase-incirlik/
Deutsche Welle, 20.05.17: [Opinion] Bundeswehr, Turkey must keep up Incirlik talks http://p.dw.com/p/2dHz6
BBC News, 05.06.17: Germany set to quit Turkey's Incirlik airbase amid row http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40163369
Reuters, 30.05.17: Still not possible to open Incirlik base to Germany: Turkey minister http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-germany-idUSKBN18Q1WN
Hürriyet Daily News, 05.06.17: Turkey, Germany fail to resolve split over İncirlik base http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-germany-fail-to-resolve-split-over-incirlik-base.aspx?PageID=238&NID=113933
Deutsche Welle, 02.06.17: Taking German troops out of Incirlik: The least preferred option for NATO http://p.dw.com/p/2e27r
Deutsche Welle, 18.06.17: Transfer of German troops from Incirlik to Jordan to start in July http://p.dw.com/p/2et4B
EurActiv, 22.06.17: German parliament backs plans to withdraw troops from Turkey http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/german-parliament-backs-plans-to-withdraw-troops-from-turkey/

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