Why is the Kürecik Base not on the AKP's agenda?

In the words of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a "humanitarian tragedy is unfolding" in the Palestine-Israel war, and "this crisis is different from previous ones; because Israel is seeking a very great revenge."

While Ankara does nothing and can do nothing beyond condemning the events and continuing to call on the parties, the Islamic world, the UN, and those who "pour gasoline" on the conflict, Erdoğan says that Turkey "continues to do its part for the resolution of the conflicts before they reach a point of no return."

Fidan also says, "I want [the Palestinians] to know that we are doing everything in our power."

But these words also belong to Fidan:

"When it comes to taking concrete steps, no one is taking the step that will stop Israel. When you do not back it with sanctions, criticisms have no meaning... The fundamental problem is in taking a joint stance or a unilateral stance. The Islamic world cannot develop a stance. We have had very serious condemnations to date, and these condemnations have not brought much of a result."

Yes, that is exactly the situation.

While even a minister in Spain is calling for the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel and the imposition of an arms embargo, there is not a single sanction on Ankara's agenda directed at either Israel or those who carry fuel to its massacres.

BEFORE THE "ISLAMIC ARMY"

This state of affairs must have driven even the government's supporters to distraction; a writer, reminding that if Israel succeeds in destroying Palestine, it will not be satisfied with that and will do everything in its power to realize that "idiotic map" that includes Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and a part of Turkey, proposed the establishment of an "Islamic army."

Another, after stating the assessment, "The problem we are facing is not a problem that will be solved by making concessions or by doing diplomacy," said, "The issue is neither Hamas nor Palestine. Even if we leave the 'Promised Lands,' they will continue to kill us."

SWEDEN, İNCİRLİK, AND KÜRECİK AS LEVERAGE

Putting their grand predictions aside; is there nothing that can be done at least at this stage?

For example, can the AKP not say that Sweden's NATO membership will not be approved until Israel is stopped?

Not only does it not say so; it declares that Turkey stands behind the memorandum it signed and that the necessary approval process will be initiated if Sweden fulfills its obligations.

Closing the İncirlik and Kürecik bases, which come to the agenda in every crisis experienced with the US or in every past attack by Israel, does not even cross their minds.

Yet, until a few years ago, they were able to say, "İncirlik and Kürecik will come [to the agenda]," or "If necessary, we will close İncirlik and Kürecik."

We know that the leader of the MHP, the major partner of the government, Devlet Bahçeli, also once wanted İncirlik to be closed.

And now? In the words of Erdoğan, while "operations amounting to genocide" and a "frenzy of madness" are taking place, this important leverage is only being voiced by the government's minor partners, the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) and HÜDA PAR.

Think about it; even the citizens who gathered in Malatya after the hospital attack in Gaza set off toward the Kürecik Base. When the Gendarmerie did not allow them to pass and tension arose, the Malatya Governor and the Provincial Gendarmerie Commander went to the region and ensured the group dispersed.

So, what was the answer given by AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik to the question, "Will the closure of the Kürecik Base come to the agenda?" at the press conference he held last week?:

"We intend to reach the diplomatic solution outlined by our President. Such a thing is not on our agenda."

WHERE DO THE US AND ISRAEL GET THAT INTELLIGENCE?

As is known, the US and the UK sent their warships to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel.

Regarding this, let the ears of the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) sources, who made the statement, "When we ask our US counterparts about this issue, they report that 'they have come within the scope of the operation for the evacuation of non-combatants and civilians,'" ring; two events took place last week.

The first was Putin's reminder, following the deployment of US aircraft carriers to the Eastern Mediterranean, that "You are within the range of our hypersonic missiles... Our aircraft that will begin permanent patrols over the Black Sea are equipped with Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles. They are known to have a range of more than 1000 kilometers."

The second was the US warship located in the Red Sea shooting down three cruise missiles and numerous UAVs estimated to have been launched from Yemen.

Since the Kürecik Radar Base is used to monitor missile threats in the region and provide early warning to defense systems, it must mean that in this hot picture, this is likely one of the main intelligence and warning sources for the US and Israel.

If so, we have the opportunity to, so to speak, blind them; but as Çelik said, it is not even "on their agenda"!..

THE LANGUAGE THE US UNDERSTANDS

Yet we know that this is the language the cowboy US understands.

Since our topic is Kürecik, let me share a behind-the-scenes event I heard from diplomats as just a small example.

10-12 years ago, when it was decided to establish Kürecik, the US announced that they would build the inner section of the base and provide its security themselves. They asked Turkey to cover the costs of the Turkish forces that would provide the construction and security of the outer section.

The cost of this to us is around 5 million dollars; that is, the US was dragging its feet for such a small amount of money.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs found this solution:

Normally, the Kürecik Base would be established by a Council of Ministers decision; however, it was reminded that since such a financial burden would come to Turkey, it would require approval from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) according to our laws. Upon this—aside from whether the decision would pass in the TBMM or not—the US, realizing that the process would be prolonged, gave up on that demand and agreed to cover all the costs.

It is clear that we cannot speak the language that the US understands, or will understand, but what is the reason for this?

Let us turn to Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan again. While complaining about the inability of the countries in the region to reveal their true stance, he said the following:

"The reason for this is that every country has serious problems of its own; political problems, economic problems, security problems—and that they are somehow in a constant exchange with the West and America. Of course, the fact that these are used as a lever against them, as leverage, and that their stances are pushed in favor of Israel is a hurtful situation for these countries. But it also appears before them as a situation that does not prevent the policy that Israel has put forward to date."

Could the reason why the AKP cannot budge against the US and Israel be that it has put Turkey into exactly this same situation?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 23, 2023