Germany will deploy Patriot air defence system to southeast Turkey, Ankara says

ANKARA, May 20 (Reuters) - ‌Turkey said ​on ​Wednesday that Germany would send it a Patriot missile defence system for a six-month deployment ‌from June to replace a system deployed ⁠as part of NATO measures in southeast Turkey to bolster air ‌defences amid the war ‌in Iran.

In March, Ankara said a U.S. Patriot system was deployed to southeast Turkey, near a ​NATO radar base, in the face of missile threats from Iran. NATO defences shot down four ⁠ballistic missiles launched from Iran during the war.

"In addition to the Spanish ​Patriot air defence system currently deployed in our country, one of the two additional Patriot ​systems deployed by NATO due ‌to the conflicts between the U.S., Israel, and Iran will be replaced by a ⁠German system," the Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"This replacement is planned to be completed in June, ⁠and the system is expected to remain operational for approximately six ​months," it said, adding security evaluations will continue in coordination with allies.

Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army, has in recent ‌years taken significant steps to reduce its reliance on external suppliers in the defence ‌industry. However, despite its efforts, it still lacks ⁠comprehensive air defences and ‌relies on NATO ​systems deployed in the region for support.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler, Aidan ‌Lewis)

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