BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – With ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, NATO Allies like Denmark, France, Netherlands, and Spain, are sending additional fighter jets and ships to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing Allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up near the Ukrainian border, NATO reports on January 24, 2022.
In the past days a number of Allies have announced their current or upcoming deployments. Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and will deploy four F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania in support of NATO’s long-standing air-policing mission in the region. Spain is sending ships to join NATO naval forces and is considering deploying fighter jets to Bulgaria. France has expressed its readiness to send troops to Romania under NATO command. The Netherlands is sending two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria in April to support NATO’s air-policing activities in the region, and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force. The U.S. is also considering to increase its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “I welcome Allies contributing additional forces to NATO. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defence.”
According to NOS, East European countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania are feeling threatened by Russia, due to the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine. These countries are NATO members since 2004.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a defensive Alliance. NATO increased its presence in the eastern part of the alliance – including four multinational battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. These units – led by the UK, Canada, Germany and the U.S. – are multinational and combat-ready. Their presence makes clear that an attack on one Ally will be considered an attack on the whole Alliance. There were no NATO forces in the eastern part of the Alliance before 2014.
☆☆☆
Head photo: The 2 RNLAF F-35s will carry out so-called Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) tasks from Bulgaria in April and May. Photo: Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF)
Aviation News, Videos and More!