The mandate of the Patriot air defense system, which was sent by Spain to contribute to Turkey's air defense and deployed in Adana, was ending at the end of the year. As quoted by journalist Ahmet Melik Türkeş Spain has extended the mandate of the system and its enlisted soldiers until June 2023.
In 2013, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands Patriot air defense systems were deployed near the Turkey-Syria border, but all three countries had withdrawn their batteries within 2 years, as there was no missile threat and due to technical upgrade needs. Turkey's air defense needs were met with the batteries of Italy and Spain.
The Patriot air defense battery sent from Spain within the framework of NATO air defense umbrella had been used since June 2015, and the SAMP-T air defense battery sent from Italy since July 2016. The Patriot system was deployed in Adana, and the SAMP-T system in Kahramanmaraş.
“We want to build bigger aircraft carriers with Spain”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who met with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, made important statements in the field of security and defense industry after the meeting.
President Erdoğan, “Turkey and Spain are two NATO allies strategically located at the eastern and western ends of Europe as cornerstones of European security and prosperity. Spain has been showing how the alliance solidarity should be with the Patriot [air defense] systems deployed in Turkey since 2015. Unfortunately, while many NATO countries took their Patriots here, Spain did not. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Spanish friends on behalf of myself and my nation. I hope that this attitude of Spain will be taken as an example by some of our other allies.
We carry out many joint projects especially in the field of defense industry. Considering the potential of our countries, we would particularly like to deepen our cooperation in this field. You know, the aircraft carrier with Spain (Amphibious Assault Ship) we did. And now we are launching into the sea. But we hope we also want to do a much bigger one with Spain again.” had used the words.
Source: defenceturk
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