Germany to deploy Patriot missile system to Turkey for NATO mission

Ankara — Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence system to Turkey in June for a six-month mission under NATO measures aimed at bolstering the country’s air defence amid regional tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Zeki Akturk, the ministry’s spokesperson, said the system from Germany would replace one of the additional Patriot batteries deployed by NATO in Turkey. The German system will operate alongside Spain’s Patriot system already stationed in Turkey. Speaking at a press conference at a military base in Izmir in south-western Turkey, Akturk said the deployment had been coordinated with NATO allies in line with the current security assessment. In March, Ankara said the US Patriot system had been deployed near a NATO radar base in south-eastern Turkey following missile threats related to the conflict with Iran. NATO air defence subsequently intercepted four ballistic missiles fired from Iran during the fighting, Turkish officials said. On 28 February, the United States and Israel carried out a joint strike on Tehran and other cities in Iran. Iran then retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting bases and assets of Israel and the United States in the Middle East. Türkiye said in March it had intercepted a number of missiles launched from Iran, though Tehran denied the claims.