German Eurofighters deploy to Poland for NATO mission
Germany has begun deploying five Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Poland as part of a NATO mission to strengthen collective defense on the alliance's eastern flank.
This is the first time the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) has operated directly from Poland, according to a statement from the Polish armed forces command on August 4.
According to DW, the aircraft will be stationed at the 23rd Tactical Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki, approximately 100 km from the border with Belarus and 160 km from the Ukrainian border. The German Ministry of Defense said the jets will support NATO air policing missions in the region.
The official deployment began on Tuesday, August 5, and will last for about four weeks, until September 3. Approximately 150 German soldiers have also been sent to Poland to support the operation.
The newspaper Bild, which also published images of the aircraft landing at the Mińsk Mazowiecki airfield, reported that the decision was made at the request of the Polish authorities. Previously, NATO air defense missions conducted by German jets were carried out from German territory, at a base near the city of Rostock.
Luftwaffe representatives described the deployment as a clear signal of active and credible deterrence, given the increased tensions in the region. The move is also seen as a preventive measure against potential violations of NATO airspace.
Currently, Germany already has troops deployed at the Jasionka air base in southeastern Poland, where they operate Patriot air defense systems to protect areas near the border with Ukraine.
After the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has significantly expanded its military presence in member states across Eastern Europe. Germany has played a central role in this process, contributing troops, equipment, and infrastructure.
Berlin is the framework nation for the NATO battlegroup in Lithuania, which it has committed to transforming into a permanent brigade. In addition, Germany has deployed Patriot air defense systems to Poland and Slovakia and has supported air policing missions in the Baltic states.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
