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A Call to Pull U.S. Troops Out of Turkey

(Breaking Defense) Gen. (ret.) Charles Wald - Over the last several years, it has become increasingly apparent that Turkey has operated against U.S. interests in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. It hindered American military operations against ISIS in Syria, set back progress in the Cypriot peace negotiations, and - despite repeated warnings - purchased and received Russia's S-400 air defense system, which represents a grave threat to NATO and U.S. security. It is time to re-evaluate America's military dependence on Turkey. Begin by putting Ankara on notice that the U.S. will move its military assets from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base. There is simply no longer a strategic necessity for maintaining a nuclear arsenal in Turkey as the U.S. has other nuclear forces available for deterring Russia. The Greek press reported in March 2018 that former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wes Mitchell had discussed the possibility of relocating a "significant portion" of U.S. military assets from Incirlik to Greece during a visit to Athens. The writer, former deputy commander of U.S. European Command, is now a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).
2019-12-06 00:00:00
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