The Netherlands and Germany are considering sending soldiers armed with Patriot air defence missiles to the Turkish border with Syria, the Volkskrant reports on Monday.

The aim would be to protect Nato ally Turkey from Syrian aircraft and missiles and the Ankara government is expected to formally request deployment later this week, the paper says.
Defence ministry sources told the paper the ministry is considering ‘an eventual joint deployment of Patriots’ and say defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plassschaert has already discussed the issue with her German colleague.
250 soldiers
Germany and the Netherlands are the only countries in Europe to own the latest type of the US air defence system.
A positive decision means 200 to 250 Dutch solders could be sent to Turkey.
Although the government does not technically need parliament’s approval to support a Nato partner, it is expected to look for broad support and will stress the need to protect ordinary citizens, the paper says.

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