(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The United States said Sunday that it is not to renew its deployment of Patriot air and missile defense units in Turkey, official media reported.
"The Patriot units will not be renewed beyond the end of the current rotation," Turkish foreign ministry quoted a joint statement issued by the US and Turkish governments, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
"If needed, the United States is prepared to return Patriot assets and personnel to Turkey within one week," the statement said noting that US Navy multi-role Aegis ships will continue to be present in the eastern Mediterranean.
The decision followed a US review of global missile defense posture and the batteries will be redeployed to Washington for critical modernization upgrades.
The missile batteries have been in Turkey as part of a NATO mission since 2013, it said, adding that the deployment is due to expire in October 2015.
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