“It (a statement by the Pentagon in response to a statement by Erdogan. - RT ) is such a peaceful reminder of Turkey that they are allies that there is no need to quarrel. But not Turkey began to quarrel, but the United States. It is necessary for the United States to pursue a more flexible policy both in relation to Turkey and in relation to other countries, and not to wave a bogeyman and a club ... When the Americans stop doing this, they realize that they are not omnipotent, maybe then they will have a more reasonable foreign policy and politics in regarding their allies, ”the military expert explained.
According to Litovkin, Turkey’s possible closure of the Incirlik and Kureggik bases in the event of US sanctions against Ankara would be a serious blow to NATO and the United States.
“If the United States, along with NATO, loses the Incirlik base, they will lose a stronghold in the Middle East. Because it is a huge airfield with all the necessary infrastructure for servicing any kind of aircraft ... Losing such a base means losing support in the Middle East, ”he concluded.
Previously, the Pentagon commented on the words of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the possible closure of Turkish bases for the US military.
On December 15, Erdogan said that Turkey could close Incirlik and Kureggik bases for US troops if sanctions were imposed against Ankara.