In an effort to fortify its eastern defenses against Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, a group of NATO member states have started two days of training exercises in the Baltic Sea region.
Air forces from Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom are taking part in the exercises. NATO candidate Finland is also involved in the drills.
“The exercise series integrates more than two dozen fighter and support aircraft and NATO airborne early warning aircraft with NATO and national command and control centres,” NATO said in a statement.
“The realistic drills train Allied forces to deter and – if needed – defend against any aggression,” it added.