Dutch F-35s to strengthen NATO airspace control from Estonia amid Russian threat
Photo: Dutch F-35s to strengthen NATO air control from Estonia (x.com/DefensieMin)
Dutch F-35 fighters will patrol NATO airspace from Estonia. This is due to the growing threat from Russia, according to the country's Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
According to him, four Dutch F-35 fighter jets will patrol the airspace.
"This establishes a high-tech defense line in response to the Russian threat on NATO's eastern flank. A strong signal: the Netherlands stands firmly in defense of the security of our treaty zone," he stated.
The F-35 jets have landed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia and will monitor NATO airspace along the alliance’s eastern border from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
"The Baltic state's air force unit consists of 90 to 150 servicemen,” the Estonian Defense Ministry said.
Russia's threat of war with the Baltic States
On September 18, the defense ministers of Latvia, Poland, and Romania called on NATO allies to urgently strengthen air defense on the Alliance's eastern flank.
Earlier this month, a Russian drone, identified as a Shahed, packed with explosives, crashed in eastern Latvia. Russian drones also violated Romanian airspace.
In both cases, NATO troops did not attempt to shoot down these targets, citing alliance command directives.
After the incidents, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry called for a change in the algorithm for patrolling the airspace of the Baltic states to shoot down Russian missiles.
