Speaking to Daily Sabah on the condition of anonymity, diplomatic sources confirmed that German lawmakers were not allowed to pay a visit to the air base to meet with German troops.
The sources said that the German lawmakers' visit was "considered inappropriate for the time being."
German media outlets claim that the reason for the incident is related to Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) NATO military officers in Germany, who have been granted asylum recently.
Speaking on the matter later in the day, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany must consider alternatives to Incirlik Air Base for German troops, and Jordan is a possibility.
"We will continue to talk with Turkey, but in parallel we will have to explore other ways of fulfilling our mandate," Merkel said. "That means looking at alternatives to Incirlik, and one alternative among others is Jordan," Merkel said.
Last year a delegation of lawmakers comprising members of a parliamentary defense committee were initially denied access to Incirlik amid deteriorating ties between Ankara and Berlin following a bill approved by the Bundestag describing the 1915 events as "genocide." They were later allowed to carry out the trip.
As of last year, Germany had about 250 soldiers stationed at Incirlik as part of the anti-Daesh military coalition, mostly used for combat-support missions, such as reconnaissance and jet refueling.
Ankara confirms German MPs denied visit to Turkey's Incirlik airbase
16 May 2017
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German lawmakers were denied a visit to the Incirlik Air Base where German troops are deployed as part of the anti-Daesh coalition, diplomatic sources confirmed to Daily Sabah.
