NATO is considering sending Patriot anti-missile batteries to Turkey to use along its border with Syria.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Turkey hasn’t asked for the defensive batteries, but if a request is made, NATO “will consider that as a matter of urgency.”
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said he expects Turkey may make an inquiry into acquiring the Patriot batteries soon, as Turkish border villages have been hit by artillery fire from Syria recently.
Rasmussen said NATO is ready to defend and protect Turkey but doesn’t plan to create a no-fly zone using the Patriot missiles; any deployment would be a “purely defensive measure to defend Turkey.”
Turkey said last week it was discussing the units with NATO but no decision had been made.
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