Hagel: US wants use of Turkey base, help training

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that the key military assistance the United States would like to get from Turkey would be access to the Turkish air base at Incirlik and an agreement to help train and equip the moderate Syrian forces.

Hagel said U.S. officials are raising those issues with Turkish leaders in discussions this week. While Ankara’s persistent request for the U.S. to set up a safe zone along Turkey’s border with Syria is not “actively being considered,” he said, American leaders are open to a discussion about it.