The commander of NATO forces in Europe, US Admiral James Stavridis, arrived in the Turkish capital late on Monday, after Turkey's decision to host an early warning radar as part of the alliance's defense system.

"The NATO commander is in Ankara on a routine visit," a Turkish foreign ministry official told AFP on Monday.

Stavridis, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, will start formal meetings Tuesday, said the official, without further eloborating.

The visit comes after Turkey decided to host an early warning radar as part of NATO's defense architecture in a military facility base near Malatya in the southeast.

Leaders of the 28-member NATO alliance gave their backing last year for the Europe-wide ballistic missile shield -- which US officials say is aimed at thwarting missile threats from the Middle East, particularly Iran.

Tehran criticised Ankara's decision, saying it would create tension and lead to "complicated consequences."

Turkey, a member of NATO since 1952, said the missile system targeted no specific country, adding that it only aimed at defending the NATO sphere.

Stavridis visited Turkey in March to discuss proposed Turkish participation in NATO-led operations in Libya.

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