Germany to Deploy Patriot Battery to Turkey from Late June

Germany will deploy a Patriot air and missile defense battery to Turkey from late June through September 2026, the German Defense Ministry announced Monday. The move comes as NATO seeks to reinforce its southeastern flank after Iranian missile strikes entered Turkish airspace.

The roughly 150 soldiers from Flugabwehrraketengeschwader 1 in Husum will form a Patriot Air and Missile Defence Task Force. U.S. unit and operate under NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence framework in coordination with Turkish and remaining American forces.

In early March, NATO air defenses intercepted at least four Iranian ballistic missiles that entered Turkish airspace. U.S. forces are stationed. U.S. Patriot systems to Adana and Malatya.

Pistorius said the deployment shows Germany is taking on more responsibility within NATO while maintaining commitments on the eastern flank and in the High North. Germany last stationed Patriot units in Turkey from 2013 to 2015 under Operation Active Fence.