German cabinet votes in favor of withdrawing troops from Turkey’s İncirlik base

Germany’s cabinet voted on Wednesday in favor of a plan to withdraw the country’s nearly 250 troops from the İncirlik air base in southern Turkey, according to reports.

In recent days, relations between the two NATO allies were strained after Turkey refused to allow a visit by German MPs to some 250 troops stationed in the air base.

In a televised speech yesterday, Turkish PM Binali Yıldırım said that Germany ‘Can do as it pleases,’ pointing that Turkey for its part has not made any decision on the issue.

Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, announced on Monday that Germany will withdraw its troops from İncirlik.