Nato 'will always defend' Turkey, says chief

Nato 'will always defend' Turkey, says chief Nato chief Mark Rutte said the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members including Turkey after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and headed into Turkish air space over the past weeks. A member of the defence alliance, Turkey, which borders Iran, has been largely spared the sort of retaliation from Tehran suffered by countries in the Gulf before the ceasefire. Nato forces shot down ballistic missiles fired from Iran four times, prompting the alliance to deploy a new Patriot missile battery at Incirlik air base in southern Turkey. "Iran is spreading terror and chaos, and you feel this prominently here in Turkey," Rutte told journalists on a visit to Turkey'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 Turkey and all others. And we cannot do it alone," he added. Rutte's visit comes ahead of a July summit by Nato leaders to be held in Ankara. Praising the progress made by Turkey in the defence field, Rutte said: "We can learn a lot from what Turkey is doing here". "This is needed because we live in a more dangerous world... and that means we need strong defences to protect our security". Rutte said: "Turkey has gone through a defence industrial revolution. I could really say it's a revolution in recent years". The Nato chief is due to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Nato chief Mark Rutte said the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members including Turkey after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and headed into Turkish air space over the past weeks.

A member of the defence alliance, Turkey, which borders Iran, has been largely spared the sort of retaliation from Tehran suffered by countries in the Gulf before the ceasefire.

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

"Iran is spreading terror and chaos, and you feel this prominently here in Turkey," Rutte told journalists on a visit to Turkey'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 Turkey and all others. And we cannot do it alone," he added.

Rutte's visit comes ahead of a July summit by Nato leaders to be held in Ankara.

Praising the progress made by Turkey in the defence field, Rutte said: "We can learn a lot from what Turkey is doing here".

"This is needed because we live in a more dangerous world... and that means we need strong defences to protect our security".

Rutte said: "Turkey has gone through a defence industrial revolution. I could really say it's a revolution in recent years".

The Nato chief is due to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.