Germany has deployed fighter jets to Poland to strengthen the defense of NATO’s eastern flank, amid rising concerns over Russian military activity. Several Eurofighter aircraft took off from Nörvenich Air Base and headed to the Polish military airport in Malbork, the German Air Force announced.
The deployment comes as a response to recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets in the Baltic Sea region and incursions by kamikaze drones into NATO territory. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had announced the move in mid-October.
Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, Inspector of the German Air Force, emphasized the significance of the mission:
“With this mission, our soldiers—alongside our Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) squadron already stationed in Romania since August—are making another valuable contribution to defending the Alliance’s eastern territory. We are sending a strong signal of support to our neighbor Poland and to NATO as a whole.”
Germany has previously deployed fighter jets to the Malbork military airport during August and September. The base is located approximately 60 km southeast of Gdańsk and 80 km from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
Around 150 German Armed Forces personnel are being sent, including pilots, technicians, logistic specialists, security guards, and military police. The mission is initially planned to last until March.
