Turkey Has No Plans to Close Incirlik Airbase Where US Jets Are Based

Turkey has no intention to close the Incirlik airbase, from which US jets conduct anti-Daesh missions, and will continue to cooperate with the United States, Ilnur Cevik, chief adviser to the Turkish president, told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the week, Deputy Chairman of Turkey's Republican People’s Party (CHP) Namik Havutca said that the Incirlik airbase poses a threat to Turkey’s internal stability as it is turning the allies of the country "into enemies." The lawmaker reportedly pushed forward a proposal titled "Incirlik Get Out."

“Turkey will never close the Incirlik Airbase and will continue to cooperate with the United States. Our warm relations with Moscow will not be an alternative to our relations with the West and especially the United States,” Cevik said.

Ergodan's aide, however, cautioned that Western nations should keep in mind that Turkey would act to safeguard its national interests when implementing its foreign policy.

“The West has to respect the fact that Turkey has its own national policies where it wants to guard its national interests. If these converge with Western interests that is fine. But if they do not they have to respect the fact that we are entitled to safeguard our own interests,” Cevik said.

The Incirlik base is used by the United States and US-led coalition combat planes when launching airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against Daesh terrorist group.