NATO countries launch joint Baltic air-naval exercises
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NATO Air Command says the drills aim to showcase the coalition's strength and increase its readiness.
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Two Polish fighters over Estonia during joint NATO allies exercises April 16, 2022 (NATO)
NATO Air Command announced on Wednesday that air and naval forces from the United States, Germany, France, and Poland will carry out joint military drills in the airspace of the coalition's allies; Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
"@NATO air and naval forces from [France, Poland, Germany, and the Unites States] will conduct Air-Maritime-Integration drills above [Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia] simulating air attacks by Allied fighter jets against ground targets on 19 Jan," NATO command posted on Twitter.
.@NATO air and naval forces from 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇩🇪🇺🇸 will conduct Air-Maritime-Integration drills above 🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪 simulating air attacks by Allied fighter jets against ground targets on 19 Jan#StrongerTogether #AlwaysVigilant #NATO pic.twitter.com/vRaDBVqoe1
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) January 18, 2023
Read more: NATO chief vows more heavy weapons for Ukraine in 'crucial phase'
In another tweet, NATO Air Command said those drills are meant to showcase the coalition's strength and readiness and will "contribute to regional security."
“The Baltic Sea is of strategic importance, exercises like these show that #NATO stands strong & ready to defend against any threat. High-end air & maritime exercises enhance the readiness of NATO forces & contribute to regional security,” said @NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu pic.twitter.com/RdUVBYMoY3
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) January 18, 2023
The NATO air drills come just two days after Belarusian Defense Ministry announced the start of a Russian-Belarusian joint air force exercise, which would last until the first of February, mobilizing all Belarusian air bases.
The Ministry explained that the key objective of the exercise is to increase the interoperability of the forces in combat training tasks, noting that a unit of the Russian aerospace forces is taking part in the drills.
Last September, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is building its presence in the eastern flank, putting hundreds of thousands of troops on high readiness.
The Western build-up in eastern Europe has exponentially increased in the past year as western countries claim that they are strengthening their deterrence posture facing Russia's military.
