Erdogan: If Berlin wants to pull troops, we'd say 'Goodbye'

Turkey would tell Germany “goodbye” if it decided to withdraw its troops from the Incirlik air force base, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said today.

Erdogan, who was speaking in Ankara before flying to Brussels for a summit of NATO leaders and a meeting with European Union leaders, also said that Turkey had not received any indication from Berlin on the possible withdrawal of troops stationed at the southern Turkish air force base.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made similar remarks last week. “We are not going to beg. They were the ones who wanted to come and we helped them. If they want to go, we would say ‘Goodbye’,” he told broadcaster NTV.

The future of the German troops at Incirlik has been thrown into question after Turkey blocked German lawmakers from visiting the troops this month, prompting Berlin to say it may consider moving the troops. Some 250 German troops are stationed at Incirlik, where they contribute to the US-led fight against Islamic State.