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German military deployment to Latvia

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2026-10-03 03:04 UTC → 2026-10-11 16:20 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Germany is deploying four Eurofighter fighter jets and several dozen military personnel to Lielvārde Air Base in Latvia to secure the country’s airspace. The mission, part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing North Mission, is intended to bolster security on NATO’s eastern flank ahead of Latvia’s parliamentary elections on October 3. The deployment follows requests from Latvian authorities due to recent airspace violations, including drone incursions in the Baltic Sea region and incidents in the Latgale and Balvi areas. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs described the deployment as a “concrete sign of NATO solidarity” and a commitment to protecting the Latvian population. As the elections approach, the deployment includes approximately 40 soldiers. This security effort aims to prevent potential disruptions from drones, following recurring airspace violations in the Baltic region since the start of the war in Ukraine. Regional security efforts have expanded as the October 3 elections approach. NATO has increased its aerial presence in the area, with Italian air forces operating from Lithuania and Turkish fighters stationed in Estonia. This heightened security follows rising tensions on the eastern flank and recent drone incidents near the Belarusian border. In a related development, the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) detained two citizens suspected of gathering intelligence for the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU. The investigation indicates the suspects were allegedly targeting information regarding Latvian defense systems, NATO military activities, and support for Ukraine. Following the October 3 elections, Turkish F-16 fighter jets were temporarily deployed to the Lielvārde airbase to protect Latvian airspace. Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis visited the Turkish unit to express gratitude for their rapid response.

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