The U.S. is moving forward with plans to remove its Patriot missile defense systems from Turkey despite recent escalations in the region, including Iran testing a new long-range ballistic missile over the weekend.
Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan announced on Sunday the successful test of the newest Iran-made long-range missile, dubbed the “Emad,” or Pillar, that could likely reach Turkey. In addition, the Russians are playing a greater role in the Syrian civil war, raging along Turkey’s border.
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Despite that, the U.S. is continuing with plans made in August to remove all Patriot missile defense systems from Turkey, a defense official said Monday.
“We, Turkey and NATO have more than adequate capabilities to defend Turkey’s airspace,” the official said.
A Turkish diplomat had a different take, however.
“We do not think this is the best time to withdraw these batteries,” the diplomat told Defense News. “This is a delicate time for our border with Syria.”
The Pentagon said this year that the battery of missile defense systems, originally sent to Turkey in January 2013, would take a one-way trip to the U.S. in October for upgrades. The threats Turkey faces have changed since 2013, the Pentagon said in August, as the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used up the majority of its missile stores.
Michael O’Hanlon, a national security analyst at the Brookings Institution, said removing the Patriots presents only a “modest” threat increase because of other deterrents.
“If Assad started threatening Turkey with missiles, we could bring Patriots back — and if Assad actually attacked, he’d invite NATO retaliation which would be foolish, so I don’t expect it,” O’Hanlon said.
