NATO chief in talks with Germany, Turkey over air base spat
BERLIN: The chief of NATO says he's in touch with both Germany and Turkey regarding their latest dispute over visiting rights to a Turkish airbase where German soldiers are stationed.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German daily newspaper Bild today he's focussed on finding a solution and won't speculate over hypothetical questions, including a possible withdrawal of German troops from the Incirlik airbase.
The German government said last week it was considering withdrawing the soldiers from Turkey.
Turkey recently blocked a request for German lawmakers to visit their country's 270 soldiers at the Incirlik airbase. The moved raised the possibility that Germany might relocate planes supporting a multi-national campaign against the Islamic State group.
Stoltenberg says he regrets the quarrel between the two NATO partners.
A similar standoff between Germany and Turkey over access to German troops at the base happened last year.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German daily newspaper Bild today he's focussed on finding a solution and won't speculate over hypothetical questions, including a possible withdrawal of German troops from the Incirlik airbase.
The German government said last week it was considering withdrawing the soldiers from Turkey.
Turkey recently blocked a request for German lawmakers to visit their country's 270 soldiers at the Incirlik airbase. The moved raised the possibility that Germany might relocate planes supporting a multi-national campaign against the Islamic State group.
Stoltenberg says he regrets the quarrel between the two NATO partners.
A similar standoff between Germany and Turkey over access to German troops at the base happened last year.