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Turkey could shut down Incirlik Air Base used by US if necessary – Erdogan on US sanctions

Ankara retains the option of shutting down the Incirlik Air Base used by US/NATO forces, in retaliation to any additional sanctions against Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.
As well the airbase, which is located in Adana, the Kurecik Radar Station in the Malatya province may also be closed, Erdogan said. The Kurecik base houses an early-warning radar installed by the US Army, which plays a strategic role in NATO’s ballistic missile defense network.
https://twitter.com/eha_news/status/1206284604128280576
Erdogan made the threat, which had earlier been suggested by FM Mevlut Cavusoglu while talking to the A Haber channel about the Armenian Genocide resolution passed by the US Senate. It formally recognizes as genocide the mass murder of some 1.5 million Armenians in the early 20th century by the Ottoman Empire.
https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1206290559549235206
While the resolution was opposed by US President Donald Trump because it came amid a notable low-point in American-Turkish relations, Trump himself has not shied away from threatening Ankara with sanctions – even with the use of force.
This war of words was triggered particularly by Turkey’s October military operation in northern Syria, which targeted Kurdish militias allied with the US. Back then, Ankara was slapped with sanctions, but those were later rolled back when Trump decided that the crisis was resolved.
Turks appeased, Kurds saved, the US gets breathing space: ‘Russia takes on a job that the US failed at’ in Syria
US Senators on Wednesday backed a bill that would enable the sanctioning of Turkey over its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, and over its military operation against Kurds in northern Syria. Ankara’s acquisition of the S-400 system has been a bone of contention between the two NATO allies, in which Ankara has steadfastly refused to abandon the deal.
Erdogan’s singling out of Incirlik is not the first time the NATO facility has been in the news in Turkey. Following the failed coup against Erdogan in July 2016, local media reported that thousands of armed police in armored vehicles surrounded the base, amid rumors of a fresh coup attempt. The authorities later explained the massive response by a routine security check ahead of a high-level US military visit. In the wake of the coup, however, several top military officials at Incirlik were arrested on treason charges, after authorities claimed an F-16 fighter jet taking part in the rebellion had refueled there.
A year later, Germany’s parliament voted to move its troops stationed at Incirlik to Jordan, after Turkish authorities refused to allow members of the Bundestag to visit the base. Turkey blocked access to the Germans after Berlin granted asylum to several Turkish nationals it claims took part in the 2016 coup.
The base is one of six storage sites for American nuclear warheads in Europe, with an estimated 90 nukes stationed there. It was also used heavily by coalition forces in the US-led bombing campaign in Syria and Iraq.
source: Reuters
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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