Erdogan calls for US support for Turkey to protect Kabul airport
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United States to meet “conditions” including financial, logistical and diplomatic support, so that Turkey can run and guard Kabul airport after other foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan. Turkey has offered to deploy troops to the airport after NATO fully withdraws and has been in talks with the US for several weeks.
The Taliban, which has gained territory as US-led foreign forces pull out, has warned Turkey against it. Erdogan, speaking in a televised address on Tuesday from Northern Cyprus, acknowledged that the Taliban had reservations but said Turkey would nonetheless carry out the mission as long as the US, a NATO partner, meets three specific Turkish requirements.
The conditions are US support in diplomatic relations, the handover of logistical facilities, and financial and administrative backing. “If these conditions could be met, we are thinking of taking over the management of Kabul airport,” he said.
Ankara and others have said the airport must stay open to preserve diplomatic missions there.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/20/erdogan-calls-for-us-support-for-turkey-to-protect-kabul-airport