The German cabinet approved the deployment of two Patriot missile systems to Turkey, with supporting soldiers, command staff, air crews and commandos on Thursday. The Netherlands and the U.S. are also expected to send a couple of Patriot batteries each.
The mandate will allow Germany to send up to 400 troops with the batteries. One hundred and seventy of these are required to operate the missiles. More will help man nato Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft (awacs) that are already stationed in the area. Dozens others will work on the nato command staff. The mandate also allows Germany to send 50 other soldiers.
