Germany to Deploy Air Defense Unit to Türkiye, Relieving US

18 May 2026, Berlin: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint press conference with his counterparts from Switzerland Martin Pfister (L), from Austria Klaudia Tanner (2nd L) and from Luxembourg Yuriko Backes at the German Ministry of Defense. (dpa)
18 May 2026, Berlin: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint press conference with his counterparts from Switzerland Martin Pfister (L), from Austria Klaudia Tanner (2nd L) and from Luxembourg Yuriko Backes at the German Ministry of Defense. (dpa)
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Germany to Deploy Air Defense Unit to Türkiye, Relieving US

18 May 2026, Berlin: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint press conference with his counterparts from Switzerland Martin Pfister (L), from Austria Klaudia Tanner (2nd L) and from Luxembourg Yuriko Backes at the German Ministry of Defense. (dpa)
18 May 2026, Berlin: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint press conference with his counterparts from Switzerland Martin Pfister (L), from Austria Klaudia Tanner (2nd L) and from Luxembourg Yuriko Backes at the German Ministry of Defense. (dpa)

Germany's armed forces will support Türkiye’s air defense capacities within NATO by deploying a Patriot air and missile defense task force to the ‌country from the ‌end of ‌next ⁠month, the defense ⁠ministry said on Monday.

The Bundeswehr deployment, currently planned until September 2026, includes one Patriot ⁠battery and around ‌150 ‌German soldiers, who are ‌set to relieve ‌a US unit, the statement said.

"Germany is taking on more responsibility ‌within NATO," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

"The ⁠fact ⁠that our soldiers are coordinating very closely with our Turkish and US partners demonstrates just how reliably our cooperation with our allies works," he added.