France to send fighter jets to help NATO air patrols over BalticsApril 25, 2014 - 12:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France is sending four fighter jets to help NATO’s air patrols over the Baltics, General Pierre de Villiers, France’s chief of defense staff said on a visit to Washington, according to RT. The four jets, either the Mirage 2000 or the Rafale, will be sent to Malbrok in eastern Poland on April 28 on a double mission to train the Polish air force and to be on standby for air patrols over the Baltic States under NATO command. “They will participate in the air policing mission over the Baltic states from Poland,” the general told reporters. But he added that French political leaders had not ordered further steps to support alliance members. “For the moment, the guidance is very clear, we do not go beyond that,” he said. The United States announced Tuesday, April 24 it is deploying 600 airborne troops on exercises in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as a show of solidarity with NATO members that border Russia and have been worried by the escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The Baltic States gained independence from the USSR in 1991 and joined NATO in 2004 but lack sufficient aircraft to police their own skies, so larger NATO members take turns in patrolling for them. A contingent of 150 American troops arrived in the polish town of Swindwin on Thursday and will be joined by a further 450. The soldiers will participate in military exercises in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia over the next few months. Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, has said that NATO exercises will do nothing to help solve the crisis in Ukraine. “War games by NATO in Poland and the Baltic states are also not helping the normalization of the situation. We are forced to react to the situation,” he said during an official meeting in Moscow. In response Russia has started military drills near the Ukrainian border, as the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. Photo: Maxppp Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. |