Congressman: If the Incirlik airbase in Turkey is closed for the United States, we will look for an alternative in Greece

Although the United States and Turkey have been allies since the latter joined NATO in 1952, tensions between the two countries have risen today. This is due to the fact that the interests of Washington and Ankara are becoming more and more contradictory.

Either in Syria, Turkish troops raced past American outposts to attack the US-allied Kurdish militia, or Ankara bought Russian S-400 air defense systems and was excluded from the F-35 program due to US objections. All of this and more has led to growing fears that tensions between the US and Turkey could threaten the operation of the key Incirlik airbase, which has served as NATO's military logistics center in the region for decades.

We do not know what will happen to Incirlik. We hope for the best, but we must plan for the worst.

- US Congressman Roy Johnson, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Europe subcommittee, said in an interview with the Washington Examiner yesterday.

He noted that he would not want to leave the base, but the actions of the Turkish leader could force the United States to do this:

Erdogan's path is not very good.

It was noted that Ankara may also close the Incirlik airbase for the United States.

As an alternative to Incirlik airbase, the United States is considering military installations in Greece. They turn their attention to the US naval base in the Greek Gulf of Souda on the north coast of Crete. It is the only deep-water port in the Eastern Mediterranean capable of receiving US aircraft carriers.

Adjacent to this facility is Chania International Airport, which is also used as an air base by the Greek Air Force. But since it is the sixth most congested airport in Greece, it will be problematic to increase the load of servicing American military aircraft, which were previously based in Incirlik.

In addition, the issue of about 150 nuclear charges, which are currently stored at the Turkish airbase, remains unresolved.

Comments

[silverwolf88]

The Americans themselves rocked the situation in the region (flirting with the centuries-old enemies of the Turks - the Kurds) ... their ears stick out from the coup attempt and the replacement of Erdogan ... well, this is generally beyond the bounds and is not forgiven ... so what do they want after that ??? ... their presence at the airbase was already limited
what to say about Greece ... of course they will accept the Americans and with pleasure ... but purely strategically less convenient location in the region ... yes, you will have to invest in infrastructure ... a rehealed business is costly ...

[Kasym]

If the US withdraws its base to Greece, how can the Turks react? After all, the Greeks are their opponents - the Turks will think that the United States sided with the enemy ?! Ankara will withdraw from NATO (or threaten to do so) - it is not beneficial for the Americans. Therefore, I think that Washington will not agree to this.

[Kasym]

In general, all this "rams" of Turkey and Greece ... Due to the large number of islands near Athens, Ankara has practically no excl. econom. zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean. The Greeks can shell Antalya from ... mortars from the easternmost island (2 miles). So the Turks pulled off a "deluge" with Tripoli, signing an agreement on the division of the EEZ - and they reached an agreement with those who were loyal to Washington. So the Turks cut off their EEZ Greece from Cyprus, and even stepped on the heels of Egypt and Israel. That is why, in my opinion, Erdogan will "fight" for Tripoli to the death. And therefore he (Erdogan) believes that Washington "threw" him here too.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Kasym

and they stepped on the heels of Egypt and Israel.

Yes, Israeli Jews do not forgive when they step on their heels ...

[hydrox]

That the Yankees will be based on Incirlik, that they will saddle Greece - it makes no difference to us: both of these places are very easy to reach not only by our super-dupers (today the Vanguard was put on alert), but by the cheapest, but capable of causing full-fledged panic in Yankes with Caliber and Iskander and certainly capable of completely extinguishing the combat capability of these bases both in terms of carriers and in terms of operating products.

[Safevi2020]

Quote: Kasym

If the United States withdraws its base to Greece, how can the Turks react?

100% will leave NATO.

Quote: Kasym

Therefore, I think that Washington will not agree to this.

Sooner or later they will go for it. The question is when. Usually, the Americans use the full potential of Turkey and when Turkey is not needed, they will do so. BUT considering what is happening in the region, the United States will need Turkey for a long time. The bay will be closed to the Black Sea and Tryndets.

[Safevi2020]

Quote: silberwolf88

what to say about Greece ... of course they will accept the Americans and with pleasure ... but purely strategically less convenient location in the region ... yes, you will have to invest in infrastructure ... a rehealed business is costly ...

Quite right. The main thing here is not as an economic side, but a geopolitical side of this issue. It will be too far and very expensive for American planes to fly, only the logistics of such a base will take a year, so the Americans are still in Turkey for at least a year.

[Doccor18]

What is bad for Turkey, for Greece - manna from heaven ..

[Safevi2020]

Quote: Doccor18

What is bad for Turkey, for Greece - manna from heaven ..

Quite right. But they won't wait

[Sergey Sfiedu]

The Sultan is building a regional superpower, which is not beneficial not only to the United States, but also to us, and even more, given how many parties we have with the Turks. And knowing how the Turks have an exclusive friendship with Pakistan, we must wait for the Turks to have nuclear weapons, mb. The Turks already have it, but they keep quiet. So, what is bad for the Turks is good for everyone, but not everyone still understands it.

[Doccor18]

What is bad for Turkey, for Greece - manna from heaven ..

[cost]

Congressman: If the Incirlik airbase in Turkey is closed for the United States, we will look in Greece

Is the Congressman an amateur of A.P. Chekhov?
As the classic taught - Everything is there in Greece (c)

[Lipchanin]

In addition, the issue of about 150 nuclear charges, which are currently stored at the Turkish airbase, remains unresolved.

But this is a problem, so a problem

[KVU-NSVD]

Quote: Lipchanin

But this is a problem, so a problem

What's the problem ? To load on a BTA and take it to a safe place with an infrastructure for storing special ammunition?

[Lipchanin]

Quote: KVU-NSVD

with infrastructure for storing special ammunition?

Does Turkey have such an infrastructure?
And it ate, oh, how expensive

[KVU-NSVD]

What is Turkey? The Americans will load theirs into transport flyers and take them wherever they want. And it's not a fact that this has not already been done.

[Lipchanin]

Quote: KVU-NSVD

What is Turkey? The Americans will load theirs into transport flyers and take them wherever they want. And it's not a fact that this has not already been done.

The one where they were going to move

[parusnik]

It seems that the question is blunt, leaving the airbase in Incirlik, Turkey will not be put before the United States. They will blackmail on this topic. The United States will freak out on this topic, but they will not leave themselves.

[venik]

"...If the Incirlik airbase in Turkey is closed for the United States, we will look for an alternative in Greece..."
=====
Lord! Yes, let them look for ... The main thing is that it does not become a "fact", but turns into ..... a "process" (preferably - endless!).

[mihail_mihail0620]

There are about 60 US and NATO bases in Turkey, of which 21 are air bases, why is it about Incirlik? I will assume that Erdogan will limit himself to puffing up his cheeks.

[businessv]

Quote: mihail_mihail0620

Turkey has about 60 US and NATO bases

Colleague, you are wrong, to put it mildly! There is no such number of military bases there, even taking into account the "native" Turkish! There are only two airbases in open data - Incirlik and Kurejik.

[mihail_mihail0620]

Quote: businessv

There are only two airbases in open data - Incirlik and Kurejik.

Kyurejik is kind of like a radar station.

Quote: businessv

There is no such number of military bases there, even taking into account the "native" Turkish!

Turkey is still a NATO member. About the number of Google issues such information.
https://iz-article.ru/t_amer_baz_18.php.

Quote: businessv

Colleague, you are wrong, to put it mildly!

It happens that only the one who does nothing is not mistaken.

[Lara Croft]

As an alternative to Incirlik airbase, the United States is considering military installations in Greece. They turn their attention to the US naval base in the Greek Gulf of Souda on the north coast of Crete. It is the only deep-water port in the Eastern Mediterranean capable of receiving US aircraft carriers.

This is not an alternative ... a place for a naval base, yes, but for an IHB we need a territory located closer to the Russian Federation, I think it will be Bulgaria, and nuclear bombs will be placed on the British WB in Cyprus ...

[BABAY22]

Lara, why do you say "in Cyprus" and not "in Cyprus"?
Take a closer look, otherwise you can get into the Peacemaker's lists ...

[Lara Croft]

Quote: BABAY22

Lara, why do you say "in Cyprus" and not "in Cyprus"?
Take a closer look, otherwise you can get into the Peacemaker's lists ...

I would be glad of this ...

[Avior]

In this case, it is absolutely true, in Cyprus. English bases in Cyprus are not part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, they are overseas territories of Great Britain.
But in Jamaica, there would be a problem. There the Foreign Ministry got confused

[Oleg Olkha]

Quite right. And even more likely - Romania, av. Campia-Turziy base and $ 130.5 million requested by the US Air Force for 2021 for its modernization and expansion.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Oleg Olkha

And even more likely - Romania,

Hardly ... Too close to the Crimea, they can cover the OTRK ...

[Oleg Olkha]

This is in the depths of Romania, already Cluj, Transylvania, as much as 800 km. from the Crimea (about the same as to Incirlik ...) and who will be the first to "cover" the argument, create a strategic air base. In Cyprus, the two British bases are not going anywhere else either.

[hydrox]

Come on!
Surely they have been under our constant sight for a long time, and even duplicated

[Sergey Sfiedu]

Inzherlik is primarily not to fight Russia, but to control the Middle East, so just right.

[viktor.]

In addition, the issue of about 150 nuclear charges, which are currently stored at the Turkish airbase, remains unresolved. Dispose of, what is there to decide.