Ursula von

The chief of NATO has said he is in touch with both Germany and Turkey regarding their latest dispute over visiting rights to a Turkish airbase where German soldiers are stationed. 

Germany's Social Democrats raised pressure on conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 21, saying if she could not resolve a row with Turkey over access to the İncirlik air base, German troops should move.

Merkel's defense minister, tacitly admitting the possibility said she had been looking for other locations and hinted that Jordan could be one.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said her office has drafted a list of eight locations, among them Cyprus, where it could move aircraft supporting the anti-IS mission if Turkey continues to block German lawmakers from visiting troops at the Incirlik base.

Talks with Turkey are still ongoing, she said.

Germany is free to withdraw its troops stationed at Turkey's İncirlik air base if it wants to, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on May 18, adding Berlin should change its attitude towards Ankara.

Germany’s defense minister says her office has drafted a list of eight locations where it could move aircraft supporting the anti-IS mission if Turkey continues to block German lawmakers from visiting troops at the Incirlik base.

It started with an investigation into a suspected terrorist plot by an army soldier aimed at top government officials. But it quickly uncovered a larger problem.

Germany and the United States over the weekend engaged in a dispute over whether or not Germany "owes vast sums of money to NATO and the United States," as claimed by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

NATO urged Turkey and Austria on March 15 to settle a dispute over Ankara's EU membership bid, which has led Turkey to block cooperation with the alliance's partner countries.

Confirming press reports, a NATO official said: "We regret the current situation and the impact it is having on all of our cooperation programs with partners." 

Germany is to increase its army by 5,000 soldiers, the Defense Ministry said on Feb. 21, bringing the total to 198,000 in 2024, at a time when U.S. pressure is mounting on European NATO members to raise military spending.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen expressed her clear discontent over US President Donald Trump’s initiative to come closer with Russia, as well as his pro-Brexit stance and his statements against the EU. Speaking at the Munich Security Council, Mrs. Leyen adopted a strict tone claiming the US President’s move was a “blow” against the European Union’s cohesion.