NATO to consider Turkey’s missile request against Syria

NATO said it will consider “without delay” Turkey’s request to deploy anti-missile systems to protect its border against the unrest in neighboring Syria. In a statement late on Wednesday, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced he had received a request from Turkey to deploy Patriot missiles along its borders with Syria. “Such a deployment would augment Turkey’s air defence capabilities to defend the population and territory of Turkey. It would contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO’s southeastern border,” he said. He said that the Turkey’s request letter had confirmed that the missile system deployment will only be for defence purposes. He added in the statement that NATO countries will ”decide if they can provide them for deployment in Turkey and for how long.” Rasmussen noted that a team would visit Turkey next week to conduct a site-survey for the possible deployment of the requested anti-missile system. This month, Turkey’s army has been exchanging fire with the border into Syria after Syrian mortar shells landed in Turkish cities near the borders leading to the deaths of five Turkish civilians. Earlier this week, the NATO Chief said that “the situation on the Syria-Turkey border is of great concern,” and that the NATO will be ready to offer any help to protect Turkey if needed.