NATO deploys Italian, Spanish and Turkish fighter jets to its eastern flank in Türkiye's first Estonia mission

NATO said in a statement on the evening of Thursday, 30 July 2026 (8 Mordad 1405) that the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air and Space Force and the Turkish Air Force will deploy fighter jets to the alliance's eastern flank to reinforce air patrols. NATO said the aim is to assure allied deterrence, protect NATO airspace and strengthen the eastern flank as part of the alliance's air defence mission.

Under the statement, Türkiye will deploy for the first time to Ämari Air Base in Estonia with about 80 personnel and five F-16 fighters. Four Italian Typhoon jets and more than 100 personnel will go to Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, and seven Spanish F-18 jets with 200 personnel will go to Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania. An A400M aircraft for air-to-air refuelling and three NH-90 helicopters for counter-drone operations will also be stationed in Romania. These units will rotate in to replace Portuguese, Romanian and French forces.

The deployment was announced a day after NATO said a Russian missile detonated on Polish territory and alliance jets were scrambled. Rising tension in eastern Europe reaches global markets, and Iran's trading partners, through European gas and energy prices and Black Sea trade routes.