German Army to move troops from Incirlik base to Jordan
Following failed negotiations between Germany and Turkey over the right of German parliamentarians to visit the Incirlik base on Turkish soil, the German government plans to transfer its soldiers, aircraft, and military equipment from Turkey to Jordan as soon as possible.
The German military has carefully planned the transfer of German soldiers, as well as Tornado reconnaissance aircraft and a refueling aircraft based at Incirlik military base, to Jordan. Contracts for the transfer are said to be fully prepared.
According to the "Spiegel Online" website, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced, after the failure of negotiations between Sigmar Gabriel, German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister, and Turkish officials, that the German government will make a final decision on this transfer at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 7).
The German Defense Minister said on Monday (June 5): "We will discuss this at a government meeting on Wednesday and make the necessary decisions on this matter." He said the Defense Ministry is fully prepared for this action.
The German military command is said to have asked its allies, including the United States, for help with the transfer. According to the German weekly Der Spiegel, the US government has promised to assist the German military in this regard.
The US government is set to provide the German military with its massive C-17 cargo planes for this purpose. German military sources have reported that this will allow the rapid transfer of German troops and aircraft from Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to Jordan.
Many leaders of the government coalition in Germany have told Der Spiegel reporters that they want the transition to take place as quickly as possible.
It is said that if the transfer goes according to plan, the German army could be ready to operate from the air base in Jordan in mid-August 2017.
About 260 German soldiers and a number of German aircraft are stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, participating in reconnaissance operations and refueling coalition fighter jets in cooperation with NATO and the international anti-terrorist coalition to combat the "Islamic State" (ISIS).
Source: DW
