Press TV
May 2, 2014
First NATO warplanes land in Estonia
Four Danish F-16 warplanes have touched down in Estonia, marking the first time NATO aircraft are stationed in one of Russia’s neighboring countries.
The aircraft, accompanied by a 60-strong supporting team, landed on Wednesday in the Amari air base in the west of the Baltic state.
NATO is beefing up its military presence in the Baltics in order to ease concerns created by Russia-US tensions over the crisis in Ukraine.
“Your arrival in Estonia and the opening of the Amari base to regular NATO flights increases the security of our region,” said Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas in a welcoming ceremony.
He said he is convincing NATO allies to “stay in Estonia” as the “work on the security of Estonia and Europe is far from over.”
Estonian defense forces spokesman Roland Murof said that before the arrival of the Danish warplanes NATO’s sole Baltic air base was in northern Lithuania.
Earlier this week, 150 US troops arrived in Estonia.
Poland has sent four MiG-29 aircraft to Lithuania, Britain contributed four Typhoon fighter jets and France deployed four Rafale jets to Poland.
The deployment of NATO forces is part of the military alliance’s bid to strengthen its presence in Eastern Europe.
NATO also plans to augment its air defenses and carry out military exercises in East European countries.
NATO’s expanded military presence comes against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine.
Tensions between the West and Moscow heightened after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and became part of Russia following a referendum on March 16.
Source