Turkey could shut down its Incirlik air base, which hosts U.S. nuclear warheads, in response to threats of U.S. sanctions and a separate U.S. Senate resolution that recognized mass killings of Armenians a century ago as genocide, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, Reuters informs.
“If it is necessary for us to take such a step, of course we have the authority … If this is necessary, together with our delegations, we will close down Incirlik if necessary,” Erdogan said on A Haber TV.
Turkey can also close down the Kurecik radar base if necessary, Erdogan claimed. “If they are threatening us with the implementation of these sanctions, of course we will be retaliating,” the Turkish President said.
Turkey condemned the U.S. Senate measure last week, with Erdogan suggesting on Sunday that the country could also respond with parliamentary resolutions recognizing the killings of indigenous Americans in past centuries as genocide.
“The history of Native Americans is the U.S.’ disgrace. Similar events have taken place in Africa,” Erdogan said, reminding of the massacres in Rwanda and Algeria by France.
“We regret that the polarization in U.S. domestic politics has had negative consequences for us and that some groups abuse the developments about our country for their own interests to weaken [President Donald] Trump,” Erdogan said in an interview for Turkish media, the Daily Sabah noted.
The Turkish President added that Trump is unfortunately not the only decision-maker and that his personal relationship with his U.S. counterpart is not enough to change the situation.
Erdogan also pointed out that this move did not comply with the spirit of allies and that it is a violation of the agreement regarding Syria reached with the U.S. on October 17.
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