http:\/\/www.hurriyetdailynews.com\/turkey-set-to-join-nato-task-force-stoltenberg-130457<\/a>) reports that Turkey will be responsible for NATO\u2019s rapid response unit in a couple years, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI welcome the fact that for instance, Turkey in a couple years will be responsible for VJTF, the so-called Very High Readiness Joint Task Force,\u201d Stoltenberg said.<\/span><\/p>\nNATO created the VJTF during the 2014 Wales Summit in the United Kingdom as a \u201cspearhead force\u201d within the NATO Response Forces against risks and threats that might arise in Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNATO is ready to deploy on short notice and that is part of our adaptation to a more uncertain and unpredictable security environment,\u201d he said regarding the task force.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\nAccording to NATO\u2019s website, the VJTF comprises a multinational 5,000-troop brigade with up to five battalions, supported by air, maritime, and special forces.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOnly fully operational, the VJTP will be supplemented by two additional brigades as a rapid-reinforcement capability in case of a major crisis,\u201d according to NATO.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIf activated, the force will be available to move immediately, following the first warnings and indicators of potential threats before a crisis begins to act as a potential deterrent to further escalation,\u201d it added.<\/span><\/p>\nStoltenberg was in the capital Ankara for official talks in the wake of United States-led airstrikes targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime.<\/span><\/p>\nOn April 16, Stoltenberg met President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan at the presidential complex where both sides discussed regional issues, including the fight against terrorism, peace in Syria, and the airstrikes in Syria on April 14.<\/span><\/p>\nStoltenberg also met with Foreign Minister Mevl\u00fct \u00c7avu\u015fo\u011flu and Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli separately.<\/span><\/p>\nsource:https:\/\/www.pio.gov.cy\/en\/\u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c0\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7-\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03ba\u03c5\u03c0\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5-\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9-\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03ba\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5-\u03c4\u03c5\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5-\u03b1\u03c1\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf.html?id=59<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (18.04.18 http:\/\/www.hurriyetdailynews.com\/turkey-set-to-join-nato-task-force-stoltenberg-130457) reports that Turkey will be responsible for NATO\u2019s rapid response unit in a couple years, NATO Secretary General Jens … <\/p>\n