NATO has launched a new military base in Turkey’s western province of Izmir after the western alliance decided to deploy advanced Patriot missiles on Turkish border with neighboring Syria

NATO has launched a new military base in Turkey's western province of Izmir after the western alliance decided to deploy advanced Patriot missiles on Turkish border with neighboring Syria.

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported on Saturday that NATO's Allied Land Command will "serve as a base for carrying out land operations when ordered by the alliance following the inspection, evaluation, preparation and standardization of NATO land forces."

"NATO has trusted Turkey at every step since its membership. Likewise, Turkey can always trust in NATO," NATO supreme commander Adm. James Stavridis said during the opening ceremony of the military base on Friday.

Speaking about the deployment of Patriot missiles in southern Turkey, NATO Allied Land Commander Gen. Frederick Ben Hodges claimed that the move is not aimed at creating "a no-fly zone or to attack."

"The evaluation team composed of officials from the US, Germany, the Netherlands and NATO were assigned in less than a week upon Turkey's request. I expect the evaluation team to complete their work in a few days. If the deployment of the Patriots is accepted, it will be done to protect the Turkish people," he said.

Turkey formally asked NATO on November 21 to deploy the surface-to-air Patriot missiles on its border with Syria. In response, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance would consider the Turkish request "without delay."

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on Friday that that the operational command of the missile system would be stationed at Ramstein Air Forces Command in Germany. "I would expect that if the decision is taken it could take several weeks to deploy, rather than months," Lungescu said.