i24NEWS
Ozan KOSE / AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech on November 27, 2019 in Istanbul.
In response to both threat of sanctions and vote to recognize Armenian genocide
Should the US officially recognize the Armenian genocide or sanction Turkey over its decision to buy the Russian S-400 missile defense system, Ankara could shut down its military bases operated by the US military and hosting American nuclear warheads, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.
“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 was quoted by Reuters as saying.
“If they are threatening us with the implementation of these sanctions, of course we will be retaliating,” the leader further added.
The US airforce uses the airbase at Incirlik for raids on positions held by the so-called Islamic State group in Syria. The Kurecik base houses a major NATO radar station.
On Friday, Turkey summoned the US envoy after the US Senate followed the lower house and voted to recognize the 1915 killings of Armenians as genocide. The bill is yet to be signed by President Donald Trump.
Armenia claims 1.5 million died in the killings. Turkey says the number of deaths was far lower and Turks also died, blaming the killings on the First World War.
Erdogan and his Turk minions are showing their tru colors – NASTY.
Turkey only allied itself with the USA for the purpose of getting free stuff, which cements the idea that they are a bunch of bitter losers and beggars.
A new Balkan war on the mediterranean sea is boiling : It seems no one is ready to stop right now Erdogan in its starting blocks : GB is the guarantor with Greece ( and Turkey ) of Cyprus independence . I do not see Boris Johnson a new Margaret Thatcher vs Argentina attack on Falklands . Macron is an empty suit , a clown , Merkel is neutral at best ; Remains Egypt and Israel who have with Erdogan a common enemy . It is up to Trump to start acting the Churchill ‘s way because the Palmerston way – Divide et Impera – is obsolete once there is ( for the time being ) one big turkish bully and not one opponent .
Erdogan is claiming the whole eastern Mediterranean, similar to what Red China is doing in the South China Sea. In both cases, it reflects a desire for long-dead empires to resurrect themselves.
“Turkey deploys UAVs in Cyprus ahead of offshore drilling. Egypt positions helicopters
Dec 15, 2019 @ 18:54
Turkey has sent drones to a base in Turkish Cyprus to escort the drilling vessels planned to drill for energy in the eastern Mediterranean. They will be installed at Gecitkale Airport. The Egyptian navy has positioned a Mistral helicopter carrier and combat task force to secure control over its economic waters, since Ankara and the Tripoli-based Libyan government divided Mediterranean economic waters between them this month. Turkish president Recep Erdogan said then, “Egypt, Israel, Greece and Cyprus cannot carry out explorations in the Mediterranean without Ankara’s permission.””
— https://www.debka.com/mivzak/turkey-deploys-uavs-in-cyprus-ahead-of-offshore-drilling-egypt-positions-helicopters/