A group of German lawmakers has been blocked from visiting troops stationed at Turkey's İncirlik air base, officials said on Monday.
Germany has about 270 troops at the base. The refusal was communicated to Germany's ambassador over the weekend, Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters. He said Turkey indicated the refusal was tied to Germany's decision to grant asylum to Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of participating in last year's failed coup. He said Ankara's reason may be "individual decisions of independent German authorities in connection with military members".
Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel plans to raise the issue at a meeting with allies in Washington this week, Schaefer said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jens Flosdorff said the military is examining moving Germany's Tornado reconnaissance jets and a refuelling plane from Incirlik to another country.
Merkel reinforced that point, noting that "one possible alternative, among others, is Jordan."
The İncirlik refusal, which follows a similar standoff last year, is the latest in a long line of irritants in Turkish-German relations.
