14 February 2016, 11:34 GMT
BERLIN (Sputnik) — The deal, reached late on Wednesday, overcame historical territorial tensions between Greece and Turkey.
NATO allies agreed on how ships, deployed to the area under the German command, would share intelligence on migrant boats with Greek and Turkish coastguards.
"I welcome this decision," the German defense chief told reporters. "The goal is to inform coastguard agencies of Greece and Turkey, as well as Frontex, about the precise whereabouts of smugglers’ boats."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO ships would not be turning the boats back to Turkey, but instead inform Greece and Turkey about their presence. Migrants in distress at sea will be brought to Turkey.
