Surveillance of Iran from a NATO air base in central Anatolia has recently increased as Ankara prepares for the possibility of a US-led strike on its neighbor and weighs contingency plans for a wave of refugees, including a possible move into Iranian territory in a collapse scenario, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft flying from Konya have recently increased missions focused on Iran, shifting attention from Russia as tensions between Washington and Tehran rise.
The report said Turkish authorities are preparing for a possible US-led attack on Iran that could be aimed at forcing Tehran to make concessions, including on its nuclear program, and then a wider attack if Iran refuses.
Ankara is increasingly worried that a conflict could trigger a new refugee influx into Turkey, especially from Afghan and Pakistani nationals living in Iran. The report said Turkish officials believe such an influx could put more pressure on Turkey’s economy, which is already under strain.
Turkey hosts nearly 3 million Syrian refugees, and migration has become a major political and economic issue in the country.
The report also said Turkey has updated contingency plans for a large displacement crisis. Those options include setting up camps near the border and, in the event of a power vacuum in Iran, entering Iranian territory to stop refugees from crossing into Turkey.
Konya hosts a NATO air base used in alliance surveillance missions. Turkey, a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran, has often tried to balance relations with the US and Iran.
