Germany will have to pull its forces out of the Incirlik air force base in Turkey, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said.
Despite last-ditch talks in the Turkish capital on Monday with Turkish his counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu aimed at defusing a diplomatic dispute, the Germany’s chief diplomat admitted the two had failed to make a break-through.
The row between Ankara and Berlin erupted after German parliamentarians were refused access to Incirlik where German troops are stationed.
Speaking at a joint news conference Gabriel said: “We have to respect that Turkey for domestic political reasons cannot approve visits. But then you know the opinion of the German parliament which will now in the very near future make reference to that part of the mandate which says that, if visits aren’t possible, the German government will have to look for another location.”
While Turkey has refused German MPs access to Incirlik it has granted them access to its Konya base.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu said: “German MPs can visit the Konya base. There is no problem to visit Konya where we have a NATO base. And we are working on the technical details. At the moment there is no decision for Incirlik.”
Germany has more than 250 military personnel stationed at Incirlik operating reconnaissance and refuelling flights as part of the international mission against ISIL.