Spain is to deploy fighter jets to Poland in November to bolster NATO’s eastern flank following a series of Russian airspace violations, reported on Thursday that the contribution will include Eurofighter jets and an A400M transport aircraft previously stationed in Lithuania.
The move, which will make Madrid one of the major participants in the defensive effort, is in support of NATO Eastern Centry, which was launched in September following Russian drone breaches.
The operation has already seen contributions from a range of NATO members, with France sending Rafale fighters to Poland, Germany positioning Eurofighters closer to its eastern border, and the United Kingdom’s Typhoon jets patrolling over Polish airspace.
Madrid said Spanish forces are already present on NATO’s eastern flank in Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Romania.