BREAKING: Turkish police raid base used by US as NATO hints Turkey could lose membership
TURKISH police have raided a NATO base used by the US Army days after a failed military coup, as the military alliance’s top official issued a thinly-veiled warning that Turkey could be kicked out of the 28-member bloc.
By TOM BATCHELOR
Express.co.uk
Mon, Jul 18, 2016
Security services searched the air base, which also houses nuclear weapons, hours after authorities arrested a Turkish air force general from the Incirlik base who the government believes helped in plotting Friday’s coup.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed full support for the Turkish government during a telephone call with President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
But he went on to warn that there could be no room for military coups in a NATO member state.
The tough words from the secretary-general will fuel rumours that Turkey could be kicked out of NATO because of the instability it brings to the military alliance.
Anti-government soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and fighter jets in their bid to seize power late last week, strafing parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul.
But they ultimately failed to remove President Tayyip Erdogan, on holiday at the time, who called on Turks to take to the streets in support of his leadership.
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