Nato ‘will always defend’ Turkiye, chief Mark Rutte says

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Nato chief Mark Rutte has said the alliance would do “what’s necessary to defend” its members, including Turkiye, after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace over the past weeks, AFP reports.

Nato forces had shot down ballistic missiles fired from Iran for four times, prompting the alliance to deploy a new Patriot missile battery at Incirlik air base in southern Turkiye.

“Iran is spreading terror and chaos, and you feel this prominently here in Turkiye,” Rutte told journalists on a visit to Turkiye’s largest defence electronics company Aselsan.

“In recent weeks, Nato has successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Turkey from Iran on four separate occasions,” he said.

“Nato is prepared for such threats and will always do what is necessary to defend Turkiye and all others. And we cannot do it alone,” he added.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte holds a press conference, ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, Belgium on October 16, 2024. — Reuters/File
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte holds a press conference, ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, Belgium on October 16, 2024. — Reuters/File

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