“It is very impressive to see what the F-35 can do.” That was said by King Willem-Alexander yesterday during a visit to Dutch troops at Ämari in Estonia. At this airbase, in addition to a detachment of the Royal Air Force, 4 Dutch F-35 fighter jets are stationed.

The 4 Dutch F-35 fighter jets are guarding the airspace at the eastern border of the NATO treaty area. About 90 to 150 military personnel from the Royal Air Force are part of the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in the Baltic State.

The king emphasized why the armed forces are present in Estonia. “The people in this country understand what the angry neighbor (referring to Russia) can do. They were part of the Soviet Union for a long time and are now free. As a NATO ally, Estonia feels protected by us.”

The king was informed about the purpose and importance of the Dutch deployment. Furthermore, several military personnel provided the king and his entourage with explanations about the fighter jet. This took place at the shelter where the F-35s are located. To get a good impression, he climbed into one of the F-35s himself. Finally, the king attended an exercise and spoke with several detachment members.

The Netherlands will contribute to the mission in Estonia from December 2024 to March this year. The F-35s monitor the border of the NATO treaty area. This also includes the quick reaction alert. This is activated when an aircraft approaches NATO airspace without identifying itself. By deploying F-35s on the eastern flank, the Netherlands contributes with advanced military capabilities to the deterrence of Russia.