Dutch authorities said Monday that they will send a package of eight F-35 fighters to Poland to increase air security on NATO’s eastern flank, especially in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Dutch Defense Ministry said in a statement that the transfer is part of the Atlantic Alliance’s Air Policy and indicated that «four fighter jets will be deployed on the eastern flank, while four others will participate in a training program with the allies,» a series of maneuvers known as Surveillance Operations.
«These trainings increase NATO’s ability to react to any threat on the eastern flank and increase cooperation between different NATO countries,» he stressed.
The Dutch government has stipulated that the aircraft have a reaction time of just a few minutes before intercepting «unwanted» units. Two F-35 fighters are currently monitoring NATO airspace, while two others are in reserve.
The Netherlands has also increased its support for Ukraine. During a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, the country’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that he intends to join the U.S. and Germany in sending Patriot air defense systems to Kiev.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
