Turkey asks NATO to deploy Patriot missiles, citing threats from Syria crisis November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1713 GMT (0113 HKT) Turkey concerned over "threats and risks" from the Syrian crisis NATO says the missiles would demonstrate solidarity in the alliance NATO allies with Patriot missiles are Germany, the Netherlands and the United States Turkey and Syria share a more than 500-mile border (CNN) -- In a potential escalation of the Syrian conflict, Turkey asked NATO on Wednesday for Patriot missiles to bolster its air defenses against its southern neighbor. A letter to NATO included the "formal request" that the alliance send "air defense elements," according to a Turkish government statement that cited "the threats and risks posed by the continuing crisis in Syria to our national security." The statement added that the NATO Council would convene "shortly" to consider the matter. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a Twitter post that the request would be considered without delay. In a statement on Wednesday, Rasmussen said the letter from Turkey requested Patriot missiles that would "contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO's south-eastern border" and serve as "a concrete demonstration of alliance solidarity and resolve." Rasmussen's statement said three NATO countries have available Patriot missiles -- Germany, the Netherlands and the United States -- and it would be up to them to decide if they can deploy them and for how long. A NATO team will visit Turkey next week to survey possible deployment sites for the Patriot missiles, Rasmussen's statement said. Sources told CNN that Germany would be the likely source for a deployment. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that any decision involving her country would need the approval of Parliament. International and Turkish media reported earlier this month that Turkey planned to ask NATO to station Patriot missiles along the border with Syria, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied it at the time. Turkey has been careful to make clear it plans no offensive action and does not want a war with Syria, which shares a roughly 500-mile (822-kilometer) border. Turkish President Abdullah Gul told reporters on November 8 that while going to war with Syria was "out of the question," precautions were needed against "ballistic missiles as well as mid-range and near-range missiles." The U.S.-made Patriot missile system -- which became well-known during the first Gulf War in the early 1990s when it protected American allies against Iraqi Scud missiles -- works well against short- and medium-range missiles. Two decades later, reports about the possible deployment of Patriots have emerged as tensions steadily escalate between Syria and Turkey. Intense fighting near the border in recent weeks pitted loyalist Syrian forces and fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army. Soon after, the Turkish Parliament approved a resolution that would allow the military to carry out cross-border incursions. Since then, Turkish forces have retaliated with artillery swiftly after more than a dozen cross-border artillery strikes believed to have been carried out by the Syrian military. Once cozy relations between Syria and Turkey have all but collapsed since the Syrian uprising began last year. CNN's Susannah Palk, Ivan Watson, Gul Tuysuz, Tom Cohen, Richard Greene and Barbara Starr contributed to this report.