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Turkey to Deploy Fighter Jets to Estonia and Romania for NATO Missions

Published January 15, 2026, 11:16
Turkey to Deploy Fighter Jets to Estonia and Romania for NATO Missions

Turkey plans to deploy fighter jets to Estonia and Romania as part of enhanced NATO air policing missions. The deployment to Estonia is scheduled for four months, from August to November 2026, followed by a similar deployment to Romania from December 2026 to March 2027. Turkey has previously contributed to air policing operations in Poland and Romania, helping to protect the Alliance's airspace. These moves come as NATO strengthens its air defenses in response to what the Alliance says are repeated violations of its airspace by Russia. Turkey is also preparing to host the next NATO summit in July. Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey does not approve of the use of force against Iran and that preventing destabilization in the region is a priority. He expressed hope that Iran and the US can find a solution to their disputes. Fidan also addressed the situation in Syria, emphasizing that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must show good faith and abandon violence. Finally, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz discussed with the US Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, the US sanctions under the CAATSA law, as well as developments in Syria, Iran, and Gaza.