The officials said the Defense Department has
briefed the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Turkey's role in
any NATO-led missile defense network.
"We think Turkey is on the front area against the threats," U.S.
Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary James Townsend said.
On Oct. 13, Townsend held talks in Ankara to discuss the NATO plan to
deploy a missile defense system in Turkey. Officials said Turkey could serve
as a first line of defense against Iranian ballistic missiles.
"As we look at where the ballistic-missile threats can come from, Turkey
seems to us to be very much along the front lines," Townsend said.
"In terms of geography, Turkey would be a good place to have, you know,
some capability there," Townsend, who attended a NATO session on Oct. 14,
said.
Turkey has already submitted a request for the PAC-3 missile defense
system from the United States. Ankara has also been briefed on BMD systems
produced by China and Russia.
In Brussels, NATO called on members to invest in a missile defense
system. NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the missile
defense shield cannot be suspended because of the economic crisis.
"The threat is clear, the capability is clear and the costs are
manageable," Rasmussen said.