US to withdraw Patriot missiles from Turkey in October
The United States is withdrawing its Patriot missile batteries from Turkey in October, Washington and Ankara say.
A joint Turkish and US announcement said on Sunday that the NATO mandate for the deployment of missiles in Turkey will end in October and will not be renewed, but the air-defense systems could be returned to Turkey within a week in a case of emergency.
"They will be redeployed to the US for critical modernization upgrades that will ensure the US missile defense force remains capable of countering evolving global threats and protecting Allies and partners, including Turkey," the statement said.
The statement stressed that the US remains "committed to supporting Turkey's air defense capabilities, including against ballistic missile risks and threats... and its security and regional stability."
The United States, Germany and the Netherlands deployed the Patriot missile batteries in 2013 along the Turkish border with Syria to “bolster Turkey’s defenses”.
On Saturday, Germany announced it would pull out its two Patriot missile systems and about 250 troops from Turkey in January next year.
A total of six surface-to-air Patriot missiles were sent to Turkey after Ankara asked the Western military alliance to deploy the missiles to protect its border with Syria.
Damascus had censured the deployment of missiles along the Syrian border, calling it another act of provocation by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. The United States and its regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- have supported the militants operating inside the country.
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