German Army to Relocate Forces from Incirlik Base to Jordan
Following failed negotiations between Germany and Turkey over the right of German parliament representatives to visit the Incirlik military base on Turkish soil, the German government intends to relocate its soldiers, aircraft, and military equipment from Turkey to Jordan as soon as possible.
The German army has meticulously planned the relocation of German soldiers as well as “Tornado” reconnaissance aircraft and a refueling aircraft stationed at the Incirlik military base to Jordan. According to reports, agreements regarding this transfer have been fully prepared.
According to the Spiegel Online website, Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s Defense Minister, announced after the failed negotiations between Sigmar Gabriel, Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany, with Turkish officials that on Wednesday (June 7/Khordad 17), the German government will make a final decision on this relocation in a cabinet meeting.
On Monday (June 5/Khordad 15), the German Defense Minister said on this matter: “We will discuss this on Wednesday in a government meeting and will make the necessary decisions about it.” She said the Ministry of Defense is fully prepared for this action.
It is reported that the German army leadership has requested assistance from its allies such as the United States for this relocation. According to the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel, the U.S. government has promised cooperation in this regard.
The U.S. government is to provide its large C-17 cargo aircraft to the German army for this purpose. German army officials announced that this way the relocation of German soldiers and aircraft from Incirlik Air Base on Turkish soil to Jordan will be carried out very quickly.
Many leaders of the governing coalition in Germany told Spiegel journalists that they want this relocation to be carried out as quickly as possible.
According to reports, if the relocation work is carried out as planned, the German army could be ready to operate from an air base in Jordan by mid-August 2017.
Approximately 260 German soldiers and a number of this country’s aircraft are stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, participating in reconnaissance operations and refueling coalition fighter jets in cooperation with NATO and the international counter-terrorism coalition in the fight against ISIS in.
Source: DW
