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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Germany is considering choose a Jordanian airbase as a possible alternative to replace Turkey’s Incirlik, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday in Jordan.


On Wednesday, Germany said it was considering moving the 250 troops deployed at Turkey’s Incirlik base to Jordan to help in the fight against Daesh militants, citing Ankara’s refusal to grant German lawmakers access to the site, Reuters reported.

Germany warned earlier this week that it could move its troops elsewhere, with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel accusing Turkey of “blackmail”.

Last year, another row over Incirlik saw Turkey deny German lawmakers the right to visit for many months after the German parliament voted to recognise the Ottoman Empire’s World War I-era massacre of Armenians as a genocide.

Germany has not made a final decision on a possible move and talks with Turkey are ongoing, she said, adding that “in case we will have to move, we would be prepared“.

Since 2015, around 260 German troops, six high-tech Tornado surveillance jets and a tanker aircraft have been stationed in Incirlik Air Base, providing support for anti-ISIL operations.

German members of parliament (MPs) will meet with the Turkish parliamentary executive committee, the foreign ministry and several other key Turkish officials concerning the referendum.

Turkey’s refusal is linked to Germany’s recent decision to grant asylum to Turkish soldiers and officials stationed at North Atlantic Treaty Organisation bases, who have been termed as disloyal officials by Ankara after a botched coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016.

*PPPfocus