Germany threatens to withdraw troops from Turkey

Germany has threatened to withdraw its troops from NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in Turkey if Ankara continues to prevent German lawmakers from visiting the soldiers.

Relations between Germany and Turkey deteriorated in May after the Germany passed a resolution declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces “genocide”.

“The German army answers to parliament, and if parliament cannot visit its army, then the army cannot stay there. This is absolutely clear,” German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Germany’s Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

There are currently 250 German troops in Turkey to assist in operations against Daesh.

Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted on Tuesday that German lawmakers must be allowed to visit the soldiers and that she would try to solve the issue with the Turkish government.

“The goal is crystal clear: it must be possible for our deputies to visit our soldiers,” her spokesman said.