How Secure Are The 50+ U.S. Nuclear Tactical Weapons At Turkey's Incirlik Air Base?

Incirlik air base in Adana, Turkey © Murad Sezer / Reuters

RT: Local authorities block access to air base in Turkey that houses US nukes

Movement in and out of the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey was blocked on Saturday by local military authorities. The NATO base stores US tactical nuclear weapons.

Access to the base has now been restored and flights are again allowed in its airspace, Daily Sabah reports, citing the US consulate in Turkey.

"Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut," the US consulate in Adana said in a message.

"Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored," it added. No further details were provided.

According to CNN, power to the facility was also cut.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: There are approximately 50 U.S. nuclear weapons at Turkey's Incirlik Air Base .... Reports: US nuclear 'upgrades' in Europe (DW), others are saying that the number is higher. Should we be concerned .... yes .... especially after reading this .... Turkey's Incirlik Airbase Left Without Electricity - Reports (Sputnik). Not surprising .... U.S. forces are now operating under "Operation Delta" .... U.S. Troops at Turkish Air Base on Highest Force Protection Level (ABC News). The White House is clearly concerned .... Obama urges rule of law in Turkey, U.S. warns of damage to relations (Reuters).

Update: Here is an old post on the status of U.S. nuclear weapons in Turkey .... The status of U.S. nuclear weapons in Turkey (Alexandra Bell and Benjamin Loehrke, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

Update #2: I hope this is not true from VICE News on U.S. nuclear weapons in a host country ....

.... Only the US president can approve their use, but the host nations have to approve the bombs leaving the country. Thus the weapons can serve as a deterrent while also being virtually unusable.

Does this mean that if the U.S. wants to move these weapons out of Turkey they must get Turkish President Erdogan's permission .... or does this apply only for wartime conditions? And what happens if he says no?