The German government said it plans to extend its troop participation in a NATO air defense mission in Turkey for another year operating Patriot missile batteries near the Syrian border.Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet on Wednesday approved plans to extend Germany's participation in the Active Fence mission to January 31, 2016, contributing a maximum of 400 soldiers. Some 240 German soldiers are currently deployed in Turkey.The decision must be approved by the Federal Parliament, known as the Bundestag. The German Patriot missile batteries have been stationed in Turkey's southeastern city of Kahramanmaraş since last year under the command of NATO.Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S. each committed two Patriot batteries to help guard the Turkish border in January 2013. Since then, other NATO members have contributed personnel as well.Germany said the Netherlands is expected to pull out its batteries at the end of the month, but Spain is planning to add one as the Spanish government said that it will send Patriot missiles to Turkey's border with Syria. Spanish troops are expected to replace the Dutch troops in Turkey's southern city of Adana who will withdraw in January 2015.Upon Turkey's demand from NATO for aid in operations against terrorist organizations in Syria, two Patriot batteries were deployed in 2013 by Dutch soldiers, one of the batteries being deployed in the city center and one in İncirlik Air Base, a key installation 100 kilometers of the Syrian border. In August, the Dutch House of Representatives announced the government's decision of not extending the Patriot missiles mission in Turkey, which was originally deployed in January 2013 in the face of possible threats from Syria. Originally a one-year mission, it was extended for another year on Turkey's request and will now end in January.Last year, the Netherlands announced that it would deploy troops in Adana and the Patriot batteries are expected to be dismantled as of January 15.Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes announced at the NATO Summit in Wales on September 4-5 that it would send six Patriot batteries. Some 150 soldiers are also expected to be deployed in Adana. Ships carrying Patriot missiles reportedly moved toward Turkey's Iskenderun Port. It has also been reported that Spanish soldiers will work in cooperation with the U.S. and German Patriot battery troops.