NATO asks Turkey to provide fighter jets for patrols
NATO has submitted a request to Turkey to deploy F-16s as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2026, several months ahead of the planned rotation. According to sources familiar with the details, the four-month mission in Estonia, scheduled for August to December, was a response to increased threats from Russia, which has been violating airspace in the region, according to Bloomberg.
The Turkish fighter jets were planned to be deployed in Romania from December 2026 to March 2027. However, Ankara has not yet made a decision on this NATO request. Earlier, in 2025, Turkish aircraft already took part in a patrol mission
It should be noted that the number of NATO sorties in the Baltic region has reached a record level since 2022, amid regular intrusions by Russian military aircraft into the airspace over the Baltic Sea. Thus, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, NATO fighter jets often fly interceptor missions or patrols in the region
The Turkish Ministry of Defence is currently refraining from commenting on the Alliance's request, and NATO has not responded to inquiries about the situation. At the same time, preparations are underway for the next NATO summit, scheduled for July, hosted by the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
It should also be noted that in December last year, a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone over the Black Sea that was approaching the Turkish border. Only a few days later, the drone's wreckage was discovered and attributed to Russian production, underscoring Ankara's growing concern over security incidents in the Black Sea, including attacks on Russian-linked vessels.
Erdogan, Turkey, NATO,
