NATO assessment team visits Turkey over Patriot missile request

A contingent of equiplment for the deployment of the "Patriot" missile defence system is due to arrive in the Turkish harbour city of Iskenderun on Monday 21 January. On 21 November 2012, Turkey sent a letter to NATO asking for deployment of a Patriot surface-to-air missile system along its border with Syria. All NATO ambassadors said they were in full support of Turkey's request, according to reports. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated, "in view of the threats and risks posed by the continuing crisis in Syria to our national security a decision has been taken to formally request NATO to support the augmentation of our national air defence by Allied air defence elements."