US to send another Aegis-equipped ship to Mediterranean

The U.S. will send an additional anti-missile Aegis-equipped ship to the Mediterranean this fall to defend Turkey and other NATO allies against ballistic missile threats, U.S. Navy spokeswoman Cmdr. Pamela Rawe told Anadolu Agency on Aug. 19. 

"The U.S. is committed to the defense of our NATO allies, which includes Turkey," Rawe said.

The remarks came only days after the U.S. announced Aug. 16 it had informed the Turkish government the U.S. deployment of Patriot air and missile defense units in Turkey, which expires in October, will not be renewed. A day earlier, Germany also said it would pull its Patriot missile batteries from southern Turkey.

No decision has yet been taken on replacing the German Patriot anti-missile systems and NATO is continuing consultations on the issue after Germany decided to pull out its Patriot batteries in Turkey, a Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News on Aug. 19.  

The additional ship deployment brings the total number of ship-borne anti-missile Aegis systems in the Mediterranean to four.

"The forward-deployment of these four ships is part of the president's [U.S. President Barack Obama] European Phased Adaptive Approach [EPAA] that calls for using BMD-capable Aegis ships and Aegis Ashore sites to defend Europe against ballistic missile threats originating in the Middle East," Rawe added.

The U.S.' decision to offset its removal of Patriot missile batteries from Turkey with Aegis-equipped naval ships brings with it new tactical advantages, according to Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association.

In addition, the ships - Ticonderoga-type cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers - have wider capabilities than their land-based missile...