In a television interview Dec. 11, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that Turkey could bar the United States from using two key bases in the country in response to possible sanctions over Ankara’s purchase of Russian missiles and its military campaign in northeast Syria. It was not the first time Ankara has made such warnings, but with the prospect of sanctions looming closer, its tone seems to be toughening.

In the interview with the pro-government A Haber channel, Cavusoglu was asked how Ankara would respond to eventual sanctions by the US Congress and whether the status of the US base in Incirlik, not far from the Syrian border, could be reviewed. The minister responded that the status of “both Incirlik and Kurecik” could be reviewed, referring also to a NATO base in the eastern province of Malatya that hosts an early-warning radar station as part of NATO’s missile defense system.

He added, “I don’t want to comment on bad-case scenarios, based on assumptions. It doesn’t end with a decision by Congress. The decision of the administration will matter as well.” Referring to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), he added, “There are 12 articles in CAATSA. Which one will the administration choose? If a decision against Turkey is passed, what authority will the Trump administration have on implementation? We need to consider all these. If we have to eventually consider the worst-case scenario, we will consider the demands of our people as well and then make a decision. All alternatives will be considered.”

The minister’s words immediately made the headlines, but could Ankara indeed dare to close down the Incirlik base and the Kurecik radar?