Nato’s early warning X-band radar will be deployed at a military base in Kurecik near the south-eastern province of Malatya, Turkey, Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal has confirmed.

“Following land surveys and inspections, as well as legal arrangements, we have decided to deploy the radar to a military base in Kurecik,” he added.

The radar will be operated through a base in Germany, with supervision from a Turkish general, Nato and US officers, as reported by Defense News.

Russia has, however, maintained firm opposition to the deployment of missile defence systems near its borders.

The US and Nato claim that the missile shield is to protect Nato members from North Korean and Iranian missile attacks, and not to direct them at Russia.