NATO's eastern front receives Italian Eurofighters due to escalating drone conflicts with Russia
In response to increasing airspace violations linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, NATO has announced the formation of a new mission called Eastern Sentry. This mission aims to bolster air defenses along NATO's eastern frontier.
Italy is among the first to publicly confirm its contribution to Eastern Sentry, with two Eurofighter Typhoon jets set to be deployed to support the mission. The deployment of these jets is a part of Italy's commitment to the new NATO initiative.
Besides Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, and the United Kingdom have also reportedly agreed to participate in Eastern Sentry. Germany has committed four Eurofighters, France three Rafales, Denmark two F-16s, and the UK two Eurofighters for patrols over Polish territory.
The new NATO mission follows claims from Poland and Romania about Russian drone incursions into their airspaces. Poland reported that at least 19 Russian drones flew into its airspace last week, while Romania's Defence Ministry stated that a Russian drone crossed into its territory on Saturday.
Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states have repeatedly urged greater protection from Russian military activity near their borders. However, Moscow has dismissed these claims as "unfounded" and called them a "provocation" by Ukraine. Russia has also denied that any drone incursions were deliberate.
The alliance has not specified how many nations will take part in the mission, but it is clear that the Eurofighter jets will play a significant role in reinforcing NATO's eastern flank. The jets will be deployed to an undisclosed location near the eastern border.
The new NATO mission is aimed at addressing increasing airspace violations linked to Russia's war in Ukraine. It is a response to the calls for greater protection from Russian military activity by NATO's eastern members and a demonstration of the alliance's commitment to the collective defence of its members.
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