By i24news.tv
NATO will place early warning and control aircraft in Turkey as part of its air defense package to the country as war rages in Syria, the German Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported Saturday.
“A temporary relocation of Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft is planned from the Geilenkirchen base to the Konya airbase in Turkey,” the German Foreign Ministry and the German Defense Ministry said in a letter to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, according to the report.
“Since Germany provides 30 percent of all personnel, our armed forces will clearly also be affected by the move,” a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.
The move to deploy the Airborne Early Warning and Control planes comes just over a month after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet that allegedly entered its air space while on a combat mission to neighboring Syria.
According to the report, the deployment of the AWACS planes is intended to stabilize the air space over Turkey and to avoid further shoot-downs of planes.
The alliance agreed on December 18 to provide Ankara with an air defense package that will include AWACS surveillance planes, enhanced air policing, and increased naval presence.
German lawmakers earlier this month approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria, answering France’s appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks.
Parliament agreed to the mandate for the deployment of Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate and up to 1,200 troops by an overwhelming majority of 445 votes in favor and 146 against.
A broad coalition of 60 countries has been battling IS since August 2014, although involvement in Syria has been more limited with some Western nations wary of how military action could actually end up serving President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which they view as no longer legitimate.
In Germany, where there has traditionally been reluctance to engage in military missions abroad, the government’s decision to take direct action in Syria has been largely met with support.
Germany and Turkey have been working towards a deal to station the Tornados at the southern Turkish air base of Incirlik.
