NATO air force pivot: Latvia to hand baton to Estonia
The increased presence of NATO air forces in Latvia, which for the past nine months has been conducting tasks as part of the rotational Baltic Air Policing mission, has ended. They will now be relocated to the Estonian base in Ämari near Tallinn.
"We have proven we are capable of conducting such operations. The NATO patrol mission strengthens the protection of Baltic airspace, regardless of where the aircraft are stationed," said Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds.
End of Baltic Air Policing in Latvia
Latvia hosted NATO air forces for the first time in response to renovation work at the Estonian base in Ämari near Tallinn. So far, fighter jets belonging to NATO allies have been alternately stationed between this Estonian base and Lithuania's Šiauliai.
For the past nine months, starting in the spring, a German air force unit has operated in Latvia. It consisted of five Eurofighter jets and several hundred soldiers. From December this year, the task of monitoring Baltic airspace will be handed over to the Dutch squadron, which will operate from Estonia using F-35 fighters.
The most advanced NATO fighters
The serious approach to the Baltic Air Policing mission is evidenced by the use of the most advanced and best NATO fighter jets, including both the Eurofighter and the F-35. The latter is a nearly 16-metre-long aircraft built with stealth technology. The F-35 is capable of electronic warfare as well as carrying conventional weapons such as missiles and bombs.
As revealed in a statement from the Latvian Ministry of Defence, between March and November, NATO air units stationed in Latvia were called to take off from the base in Lielvarde more than fifty times.
Andris Spruds emphasized the importance of maintaining the presence of allied forces in Latvia due to the rising number of NATO airspace violations. He called for both an increase in deterrence efforts and the implementation of an active NATO air defence rotation model.
The Baltic Air Policing mission has been continuously carried out for 20 years since Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which do not have their own air forces, joined NATO in 2004.
