 Two Awacs aircraft have been sent from Germany |
German Defence Minister Peter Struck has rejected Nato calls for further military assistance to Turkey, saying that Germany has "done enough" already. Germany has so far agreed to send 46 Patriot missiles to Turkey, as well as troops manning Awacs aircraft.
The BBC's Ray Furlong in Berlin says this is the latest sign of Germany's reluctance to get sucked into any conflict over Iraq.
Mr Struck suggested that Nato's request for more could be met by the United States.
"I think we have done enough for Turkey," he said.
"There are also American Patriots and Awacs systems," he added. "The [Nato request] is not only directed at Germany."
Belgian solidarity
Two Awacs aircraft were sent from the German base of Geilenkirchen to Konya in southern Turkey at the beginning of the week.
Mr Struck's comments followed similar remarks by the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, late on Wednesday night - he also said Germany's existing deployment to Turkey was sufficient.
Mr Struck was speaking after a meeting with his Belgian counterpart, Andr� Flahaut.
The two countries, along with France, had earlier blocked Nato from beginning planning for Turkey's defence, arguing that it would send the wrong signal as diplomatic efforts continued to find a solution to the Iraq crisis.
They dropped their objections 10 days ago, under heavy pressure from the US and other Nato members.
Mr Flahaut said his visit to Berlin was to show solidarity with the joint initiative submitted to the UN Security Council by France, Germany and Russia, which is aimed at prolonging the work of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, and delaying the start of hostilities.
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