Incirlik remains best option for German troops: Analyst

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Moving German troops from Incirlik Airbase in Adana, southern Turkey to another country in the region might hamper the fight against Daesh, a senior military analyst said Friday.

The German government this week identified eight bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Greek Cypriot side as potential alternatives to Incirlik, amid heightened political tensions between Ankara and Berlin.

Thomas Wiegold, a senior German journalist and analyst who runs a blog on military affairs, said Incirlik remains "the best-suited airbase” for the German troops supporting international coalition operations against Daesh.

“Because it is run under NATO standards, with NATO procedures. That means the cooperation with air traffic control and everything else is much easier in Incirlik. And also U.S. airplanes are based here,” he said.

Since 2015, around 240 German troops, six high-tech Tornado surveillance jets, and a tanker aircraft have been stationed at Incirlik to provide support for the anti-Daesh air campaign.

But at the request of the German parliament in November, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition government has examined alternatives to Incirlik and told lawmakers this week that an airbase in Jordan, Kuwait, or Greek Cypriot side might also be suitable for the mission.

However, the government also noted that so far Berlin has not entered into talks with any of these countries for the potential deployment of German troops at one of these bases.

Wiegold underlined that the bases in Jordan and Kuwait do not operate in line with NATO standards, and the island of Cyprus is far from the area of operations, important factors which would likely increase the cost of the operations.

- Not so easy

The government concluded that Jordan’s Al Azraq Air Base, Al Jaffr Air Base, or Prinz Hassan Air Base might be suitable for the operation.

In Kuwait, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Ali Al Salem Air Base, and Kuwait International Air Base were identified as possible deployment alternatives. In the Greek Cypriot administration, Akrotiri Air Base or Paphos Air Base were seen as qualified for such a deployment.

But Wiegold said a potential relocation of German troops from Incirlik to another country in the region would not be easy.

“Moving forces from Incirlik to another airbase would also impede the capabilities of the German reconnaissance planes for an unknown time,” he said, adding that German surveillance jets would not be available for the international coalition for weeks or months.

Berlin is not expected to take a decision on the future of its troops in Incirlik before September’s parliamentary elections, and the parliamentary mandate for the ongoing deployment ends this Dec. 31.

Wiegold stressed that many things would depend on developments in relations between Turkey and Germany in the coming weeks.

“From a military point of view, Incirlik is the best solution. But any decision would be taken on the political level, and not for technical reasons. That is the bottom line,” he said.

-Tensions

German lawmakers have been critical of the deployment due to recent political tensions with NATO ally Turkey, and Ankara’s reluctance to give permission for lawmakers’ visits to Incirlik.

Last June, German lawmakers approved a controversial parliamentary motion which described the deaths of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as “genocide”, sparking outrage in Turkey.

Ankara responded by denying German lawmakers’ requests to visit their troops stationed at Incirlik.

Turkey also criticized opposition German lawmakers for backing the terrorist group PKK, which is also outlawed in Germany.

Disagreements between Turkey and Germany on military cooperation have also blocked planned infrastructure investments by the German armed forces at Incirlik, including a new runway and a portable command center.

When Ankara demanded access to information gathered by German surveillance jets during their flights over northern Syria, Berlin replied by saying that this information can only be shared through the command of the anti-Daesh coalition, in line with the mandate approved by the German parliament.

- Referendum rallies blocked

Relations between Turkey and Germany further deteriorated in recent weeks after German authorities cancelled several planned rallies by Turkish ministers and politicians ahead of Turkey’s April 16 constitutional referendum for a transition to a presidential system of governance.

In Germany, nearly half of 3 million Turkish immigrants are eligible to vote in the referendum.

While the Yes campaign was blocked by authorities, German opposition parties have publicly backed the No campaign, drawing sharp criticism from the Turkish government, which accused them of interfering in Turkey’s internal affairs.

Turkish leaders also blasted the barring of planned rallies in Germany as "fascist" and "neo-Nazi" practices.

While German opposition politicians called for an immediate end to the military mission in Incirlik amid heightened tensions with Turkey, Merkel's coalition government has so far turned down these calls, stressing that German troops are stationed there as part of an international coalition and with the goal of countering Daesh.