Posted on 05/05/2015 5:57:08 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
British warplanes arrived in the Baltics yesterday to begin ‘air policing’ in the region amid continuing aggression from Russia.
Four Typhoons were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, to safeguard the skies as part of a ‘high readiness’ Nato force in Eastern Europe.
They were deployed to Amari airbase in Estonia, where they will patrol the air space as part of a four-month mission until the end of August
The RAF fighter jets will work alongside four Norwegian aircraft which will be based in Lithuania.
Keit Pentus-Roimannus, the Estonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, yesterday welcomed the RAF planes as a ‘demonstration of Alliance solidarity carrying a visible sign and sound, which was the whisper of freedom’.
The RAF detachment, 121 Expeditionary Air Wing, led by Wing Commander Stu Smiley took over the Nato task from the Spanish.
An RAF spokesman said the Typhoons were there ‘to play their part in ensuring that aircraft are available on high readiness ground alert to investigate any unknown approaches to the Baltic air space’.
The jets will also carry out training and practice scrambles.
Michael Fallon announced earlier this year that the UK would play a lead role in a ‘high readiness’ task force in Eastern Europe.
He said Britain would send up to 1,000 troops and Typhoon jets as part of the biggest reinforcement of Nato’s collective defence since the end of the Cold War.
Following the announcement, he said there was a ‘real and present danger’ of Russia trying to destabilise the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
The deployment yesterday comes after repeated efforts by Vladimir Putin to test Nato defences by deploying warplanes and ships close to the territory of Nato member states.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
How the heck was a hot war avoided for basically 40 years?
There were adults in charge at the time.
That was then, this is now. Game over?
I would still like to think calmer heads would prevail if push came to shove
Im so cynical I dont believe these clowns can do anything right or ever tell the truth. The military is all but gutted so dont expect calmer orvery competent heads there.
very bad
But I think very true.
Do not think for one second any of this administrations intentions are good.
Russia hasn’t been able to push us into combat yet, this time, either.
They are threatening, and invading right up to NATO border, but we haven’t taken the bait.
What we can do, is show a strong enough unified front to force Putin to see that he isn’t ready to take us on.
Russia is not who they were, in 1988.
So, I think the world is safe...
For the time being...
Unless they are locked and loaded, they are useless toys.
Yes but it is the first time the us is absent but not absent. If the clowns would stay away it might be ok
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.