Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Key US Base at Risk as Turkish-US Tensions Escalate

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - With the United States mulling sanctions over Turkey's
   recent procurement of Russian missiles, Ankara is warning that
   America's use of a critical military air base could be at risk.

   The U.S.'s decades-long use of Incirlik Air Base is seen as not only of
   vital military importance, but underscores the strategic relationship
   between the two NATO allies.

   "We are currently running the process [of retaliatory measures],
   whether it's Incirlik, Kurecik [U.S. radar base in Turkey] or other
   issues," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned Washington
   this week, in the latest ratcheting up of bilateral tensions.

   "If America has very negative steps toward us," he added, "if there are
   sanctions or further steps, we will have answers to America."

   Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly made a
   similar threat over Incirlik's use, in his meeting with President
   Donald Trump in June on the sidelines of the G-20 economic summit in
   Osaka, Japan.

.