Ankara Expected To Greenlight Washington’s Request On Incirlik Airbase

BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Our government is signaling its readiness to allow the US to use Incirlik airbase as a military center for American military operations. Ankara will probably accept Washington’s request to use the base as a main logistics hub.
What does the United States want from Turkey? ‘To be permitted to use Incirlik as a main hub for dispatching and collecting American troops in periods of rotation.’ The US needs a logistics center to fulfill its requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan, in other words, it seeks to use Incirlik as a hub where giant transportation planes will land and also its military equipment and personnel will be deployed. The most appropriate location for these purposes is Incirlik. Giant US planes will land in Incirlik and then smaller planes will transport equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan. In the periods of rotation, American soldiers will be collected in Incirlik and then be dispatched to their mission locations.
Washington’s request on this issue is about transportation planes only. It previously withdrew its demands on warplanes. Ankara and Washington are now trying to determine the details of the terms and conditions of a possible agreement on the issue, covering such important issues as the definition of logistical equipment. Ankara is placing high importance on the definitions because it wants to avoid further disputes.
The current discussions are being held in line with the bilateral Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement. After a memorandum of understanding is prepared on the planes and logistical equipment, Ankara will then give official permission to Washington. Our government is being very careful about the memorandum.