Germany and Turkey’s squabble over access to the strategic and symbolic Incirlik airbase reflects worsening tensions between Turkey and the West, and how actors in both countries are willing to employ this antagonism for domestic political gain.
• Incirlik airbase is very important strategically for NATO and is symbolic of Turkey’s military cooperation with the West, an issue of contention domestically.
• Germany’s potential withdrawal from Incirlik reflects the growing rift between Turkey and the West, partly over differing stances towards Syrian Kurdish groups.
• The spat also relates to the two countries’ bilateral relationship, with actors on both sides likely seeing in it potential for domestic political gain.
Germany has stated its intention to remove its forces from the strategic air base of Incirlik in southern Turkey, making the base once again the focus of domestic and international contention. The issue of access to Incirlik has become symbolic of…
To receive the full briefing, please click here to subscribe or become a CEFTUS member.
A basic subscription, starting from £20/month, entitles subscribers to daily news digests and weekly analytical briefings on current affairs in Turkey.
Basic membership, starting from £90/month, provides members with a subscription, other products, as well as access to all CEFTUS’ exclusive roundtable events, typically priced at £50/event.
To commission analytical work on Turkey, Iran, Iraq or Syria, or should you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Photo credit: www.kerkuk.net
8 June 2017