Merkel's Cabinet Backs Turkey Troop Pullout

The move comes as relations remain tense

“It’s clear that dialogue with Turkey must be maintained”

- Arne Delfs

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government backed the withdrawal of German troops from Turkey, escalating a feud between two NATO allies and major trading partners.

Germany will seek talks with the US and other allies in the coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq to ensure a smooth transition from Incirlik to a base in Jordan, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said after the German cabinet backed the move.

Merkel said the redeployment may remove an irritant in relations and allow the two countries to focus on addressing other disputes.

“This can also lead to a situation where we don’t constantly have to engage in confrontation with Turkey on this issue,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin. “We have a whole series of shared interests with Turkey, plus close economic ties. So keeping channels of communication open is very important.”