NATO to consider Turkish request for missile defense against Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO said on Wednesday, November 21 it would consider a Turkish request to deploy Patriot missiles on its territory to help it defend itself against any Syrian attacks, according to Reuters.

"Ambassadors will have an initial informal discussion on the Turkish request today," a NATO official said. Turkey said the NATO ambassadors would meet shortly, while the head of NATO said the alliance would discuss the request "without delay".

The request followed talks between Ankara and NATO allies about how to shore up security on the 900-km (560-mile) border with Syria after mortar rounds landed on Turkish territory, increasing concerns about the civil war spilling over into Syria's neighbors.

Turkey said on Tuesday it had found allies who agreed to supply it with an advanced Patriot missile system. Only the United States, the Netherlands and Germany have the appropriate system available.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he had told his country's ambassador to NATO to approve Turkey's request.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: "Such a deployment would augment Turkey's air defense capabilities to defend the population and territory of Turkey."

"It would contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO's south-eastern border."

Rasmussen has said that any missile deployment would be a defensive measure to counter mortar rounds, and not to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria. Rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces have called for a no-fly zone as they are almost defenseless against Syria's air force.