NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has issued a statement on the proposal to deploy Patriot Missiles to Turkey, following violence along the country’s border with Syria.
The Secretary General issued the following statement (video above, courtesy of NATO):
“I have received a letter from the Turkish government requesting the deployment of Patriot missiles. Such a deployment would augment Turkey’™s air defence to defend the population and territory of Turkey. It would contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO’™s South-Eastern border. And it would be a concrete demonstration of Alliance solidarity and resolve.
In its letter, the Turkish government stressed that the deployment will be defensive only, and that it will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation.
NATO will discuss Turkey’™s request without delay. If approved, the deployment would be undertaken in accordance with NATO’™s standing air defence plan.
It is up to the individual NATO countries that have available Patriots – Germany, the Netherlands and the United States – to decide if they can provide them for deployment in Turkey and for how long.
Next week a joint team will visit Turkey to conduct a site-survey for the possible deployment of Patriots. The security of the Alliance is indivisible.
NATO is fully committed to deterring against any threats and defending Turkey’™s territorial integrity.”
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General
