Photo: AFP Pool/DPATurkey on Thursday hit back at German threats to pull its troops out of a key NATO base on its soil, saying it would "not beg" them to stay. Turkey decided to block the visit after Germany granted asylum to Turkish military personnel, whom Ankara accuses of being linked to the failed coup in Turkey last summer. Germany warned earlier this week that it could move its troops elsewhere, with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel accusing Turkey of "blackmail". "It is up to them, we will not beg them," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV, saying Ankara was not blackmailing Germany. While visiting Washington this week, Gabriel also called on the United States to use its influence to help Germany in the conflict with Turkey.

Source: The Local May 18, 2017 10:41 UTC