Poland to create an air defense system with Baltic states - FT
14:35
Poland, along with the Baltic countries, are considering the formation of a regional anti-aircraft missile shield in order to protect against Russian aircraft, the UK daily The Financial Times informed.
“We are in discussions now with the Estonians, the Latvians and the Poles over how we can create some kind of regional air defense system. It is hoped the system will be operational within two or three years. The quartet of countries is evaluating procurement options,” Lithuanian defense minister Juozas Olekas told The Financial Times on Friday.
The move to acquire anti-aircraft missile systems is part of a broader push by regional powers to increase their air defenses. The Baltic states are also lobbying for NATO to recalibrate its Baltic air policing mission. They want a fully-fledged aerial defense mission, which would require the deployment of dozens of NATO jets, the newspaper argues.
Recently in May, several international dailies reported on the information that 4,000 NATO troops will be based in Poland and the Baltic countries in order to strengthen Europe's Eastern border, after that Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz confirmed that one of the battalions will be stationed in Poland and the rest in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
